In a nod to President Donald Trump, Argentina has initiated a crackdown on immigration that aims to “Make Argentina Great Again.”
Argentine President Javier Milei’s spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, announced that the country will deport immigrants who are illegally present, have false documents, or have committed other crimes.
“Today we have a migration policy that invites chaos and abuse by a lot of rascals, who are far from coming to live in the country in an honourable way to build a prosperous future,” Adorni told reporters, as per the Buenos Aires Times. “It’s time to honor our history and make Argentina great again.”
“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,” Adorni declared, adding, “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.”
“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,” an official statement from the Argentine government says, as obtained by the outlet. “This measure seeks to bring order and common sense back to a system that, sadly, had been distorted by the complicity of populist politicians.”
A 2024 poll from CB Consultora Opinión Pública found that Argentine President Javier Milei is the most popular head of state in South America.
