The government of President Javier Milei announced this Wednesday a profound reform of the Argentine migration system that includes immediate deportations, restrictions on access to public services, and stricter requirements for obtaining residency and citizenship.
The measure was formalized through a Decree of Necessity and Urgency, and publicly presented by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni and Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, according to Cadena3.
The new regulation amends the Immigration Law 25.871, and aims to limit the entry, stay, and access to state benefits for foreign citizens who do not have permanent residency or who are in an irregular situation.
Keys to the new immigration regime
Immediate deportation for foreigners with final sentences in their countries of origin or those caught committing crimes in flagrante delicto within Argentina, including at border crossings.
Reduction of the appeal deadlines for expulsions, as explained by Minister Bullrich, in order to prevent judicial processes from delaying the execution of deportations.
Tariffing of public health and university education services for transient, temporary, or irregular residents. Foreigners must have mandatory health insurance upon entering the country.
Tighter requirements have been implemented for obtaining the National Identity Document (DNI), permanent residency, and Argentine citizenship. From now on, only those who legally reside continuously for two years, or those who make significant investments in the country, will be eligible for citizenship.
National universities may impose fees on foreign students who are not permanent residents, while primary and secondary education will remain free for all residents, in accordance with Article 20 of the National Constitution.
Official justification: order, sustainability, and "end of abuse."
In the official statement released by the President's Office, it is stated that the decree aims to put an end to abuses of public resources and to ensure that "taxpayer money is used for them and not for those who enter to misuse the system."
According to official data, in 2024, medical care for foreign individuals in public hospitals involved an expenditure of approximately 14 billion pesos, a figure cited as justification for requiring payment for services and mandatory health insurance.
"The society elected President Milei with the mandate to rebuild Argentina," the text states, which also denounces the existence of "medical tourism" by foreign citizens who entered solely to access free services.
Critiques and Background
The measure is part of the restrictive and nationalist vision of Milei's libertarian government, and it is already drawing criticism from human rights sectors, labor unions, and migrant organizations. Several experts have warned that the changes could violate international treaties on non-discrimination and universal access to essential services.
This is not the first time that Milei and his team have criticized the immigration system. During the campaign and in his inaugural speech at Congress, the president had already expressed his intention to review foreign policies and focus state benefits on "the Argentines who fund them."
With this reform, Argentina breaks with decades of open migration tradition, inheriting the Alberdian principle that "to govern is to populate," and marks a drastic shift toward a selective and restrictive model, imposing harsher conditions on those who wish to reside or settle in the country.
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