Argentina has announced an overhaul of its immigration policy, framing it as a crackdown on criminals crossing the border and freeloaders seeking free public services.
The government said it would be introducing stricter requirements for permanent residence and citizenship, new charges for healthcare and university services for foreign nationals and expedited deportation procedures.
Foreign nationals who are undocumented, have criminal convictions or provide false information when crossing Argentina’s borders will face deportation.
“The extreme ease of access to Argentina that existed until now has led to the arrival of 1.7 million undocumented immigrants over the past 20 years. This measure seeks to bring order and common sense back to a system that, sadly, had been distorted by the complicity of populist politicians,” said the government in a statement.
The measures, previously flagged by the government in December, will be enacted through a presidential decree. The full scope of the measures will be defined in the text of the decree, which will take effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette.
The measures were simultaneously posted on social media by President Javier Milei’s Office and unveiled at a press conference by his spokesperson, Manuel Adorni.
The announcement, made just days before key elections for the Buenos Aires City Legislature, is the second of three measures deployed to sway voters in the final days of campaigning.
Adorni, who is running for office in Sunday’s vote, has turned his weekly briefing into a daily event, raising his profile for the final days before voting.
“As we did at the beginning of our history, we want to continue welcoming those who come to build a freer and more prosperous country but we must know how to welcome those who are willing to contribute within the rule of law,” he said during a closed press conference, during which he did not respond to questions from reporters. “We must have the resolve to expel those who break the rules of our territory.”
Joined by Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Deputy Cabinet Chief (Interior) Lisandro Catalán, Adorni declared: “From now on, any convicted person who tries to enter through the border will be turned away by the immigration authorities. And anyone caught entering through unauthorised crossings will be immediately deported.”
“Argentina will not be a fertile land for criminals. Anyone convicted of a crime – regardless of the sentence – will be deported and the appeal process for expulsions, which today drags on endlessly, will be shortened. If you commit the crime, you face the consequences,” he added.
“There are many honest immigrants who obey the law and come to work and forge a future. It is not fair to them if we allow those who break the rules to remain in our territory outside the law.”
Net migration to Argentina in 2023, the most recent year for which data exists, was 3,718 – a four-percent decline on 2022's data, according to government data.
Argentina’s 2022 National Census showed that the country had some 1.93 million foreign residents, accounting for 4.2 percent of the total population – the lowest rate since records began being kept in the 1869 census.
Healthcare, education measures
Among other steps, the Milei government said that undocumented immigrants, as well as transitory and temporary residents, would have to pay to access services at public healthcare or higher education institutions.
“National universities will be authorised to charge for their services if they choose to do so, in line with their institutional autonomy,” said Adorni.
According to official 2022 data, foreign nationals made up just 4.1 percent of university students.
Public healthcare and education are currently free for all in Argentina, including foreign nationals, under existing laws.
Foreign nationals will also be required to show proof of medical insurance to enter the country.
Referencing the issue of “healthcare tourism,” Adorni claimed that in just one year, eight national hospitals spent 114 billion pesos treating foreign nationals.
Adorni also promised stricter requirements for those seeking to obtain permanent residence and citizenship, which will now only be granted to those who have lived continuously in the country for two years without leaving national territory.
“Those who enter or stay in the country irregularly will no longer be rewarded with citizenship, as has happened until now,” he said.
“Argentina doesn’t even deport those who break the law. Under current rules, any immigrant convicted of a crime with a sentence under five years can continue living in the country, putting everyone else at risk,” he added.
Adorni criticised current immigration policy as one that “invites chaos and abuse by opportunists who are far from coming here honourably to build a future of prosperity.”
“Today, almost anyone can enter, with few questions asked, and deportation conditions are too lax. In the last 20 years, 1.7 million undocumented immigrants entered – the equivalent to the population of La Matanza or the province of Tucumán,” he claimed.
“Argentina has been far too lenient. Today, anyone with a [prison] sentence [of] under three years can still enter the country,” declared Milei’s top spokesperson.
When the Milei administration first floated these measures in December, the Buenos Aires provincial government — the most populous in the country — responded by reaffirming its commitment to free healthcare access for foreign nationals.
Other provinces, including Jujuy, Salta and Mendoza, had already implemented charges for non-resident foreigners accessing provincial health services.
New measures
– No foreign national with a criminal conviction will be allowed to enter the country. Those who commit any crime in Argentina will be deported, regardless of the sentence. Offences carrying prison sentences of less than five years will now also qualify for expulsion.
– Temporary, transitory and undocumented residents must pay for healthcare services. All individuals entering the country must hold health insurance.
– National universities may charge tuition for foreign students on temporary residence permits, if they choose to do so. Free access to primary and secondary education remains in place for all residents, as stipulated by Article 20 of the Constitution.
– Citizenship will only be granted to those who have lived continuously in Argentina for two years or who have made a significant investment in the country. Permanent residence applicants must show proof of income and a clean criminal record.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
Comments