Argentine presidency spokesman Manuel Adorni was the one who made the announcement. He said that current migratory legislation “enables chaos.” He stated that transient and illegal residents should pay for the use of public services in the country, such as health and education. And he also stated that public universities “they want, I repeat they want, can charge from foreign students.”
He stated that people who enter Argentina should have health insurance. He justified this decision of the Malei government by citing the increase of foreigners attended to the public health system. “Our goal is to ensure the sustainability of the health system, so that it is no longer a benefit (for foreigners) funded by our citizens,” he said.
It was not the first time the government has made ads on this line. In December, the spokesman announced that the government wanted to boost foreign students, without Argentine residence or citizenship, at public universities. But both by current legislation and the attitude of the rectors, the measure had no advances. In March this year, Milei said, “Our nation has been generous with immigrants, but it’s different when our neighbors think we’re silly or a benefit center paid with Argentines money.” Milei’s statements and spokesman on Wednesday indicate that the Argentine president did not give up on the idea, which was part of the campaign to the local elections this Sunday (18) in the city of Buenos Aires. Adorni is a candidate for local legislator and had Milei on his stage,
Adorni stated that the caught people trying to get illegally entering Argentina will be “expelled.” “And those who lie about their situation upon arriving in the country will also be expelled. Argentina will not be fertile land for the arrival of delinquents,” he said. The series of measures announced by him on Wednesday also includes the expulsion of those who commit a crime in Argentine territory. According to Adorni, in the last 20 years 1.7 million irregular immigrants have entered. “There are many good immigrants that come to work and build a future. But it is not fair that those who do not obey norms stay in the Argentine territory.”
The package of measures is part of a Decree of Need and Urgency (DNU) that the Government will send to Congress, but would already enter into force from the publication in the Official Gazette, that is, even before being analyzed by legislators.