WASHINGTON — Division of Homeland Safety chief Kristi Noem on Monday stated the US is about to let Argentinians keep in America for 90 days with out visas — giving the plan a thumb’s up whereas posing subsequent to a chainsaw.
Noem was hosted for associated talks in Buenos Aires by Argentinian President Javier Milei, who famously carried a chainsaw throughout his 2023 election marketing campaign as a logo of his cost-cutting guarantees.
“Below President Javier Milei’s management, Argentina is turning into a good stronger pal to the US—extra dedicated than ever to frame safety for each of our nations,” Noem stated in a press release on deliberate modifications to the US Visa Waiver Program.
“Argentina now has the bottom visa overstay charge in all of Latin America and 25 % extra Argentines traveled to the US within the first 4 months of this 12 months in comparison with final 12 months—the most important soar of any of the highest 20 worldwide arrivals,’’ she stated.
“That’s the reason we are actually taking steps to permit Argentina again into the Visa Waiver Program,’’ she stated of the South American nation, which was booted from it in 2002 over financial and safety considerations.
The transfer is seen as a big win for Argentina, particularly because the US heads towards extra restrictive insurance policies on international nationals and growing deportations of unlawful migrants.
Argentina’s deliberate return into this system — which at the moment contains 42 nations — comes amid President Trump’s shut relationship with the right-wing Milei.
Chile is the one different nation in South America that’s on the unique record, which incorporates principally European nations, some Asian nations, Israel and Qatar.
Noem traveled to Argentina personally to signal a press release with Argentinian officers on the visa program.
Each she and Milei have been pictured Monday giving a thumb’s up subsequent to a golden and purple chainsaw — a nod to the one he gave Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk at CPAC.
Milei had introduced onetime Trump buddy Musk with the facility software in February with the inscription, “Viva la libertad, carajo,” Spanish for “Lengthy dwell liberty, rattling it.”
On the time, Musk oversaw Trump’s new Division of Authorities Effectivity. He has since had a serious falling-out with Trump.
However Trump and Milei’s relationship is seemingly nonetheless going robust.
Milei was one of many solely worldwide leaders on stage at Trump’s inauguration, has attended galas at Mar-a-Lago and obtained glowing reward from the commander-in-chief.
“Even Argentina, they went MAGA,” Trump stated in a March speech in Richmond, Va.
“You realize Argentina. Nice man. He’s an enormous Trump man. He loves Trump. I like him as a result of he loves Trump,’’ the president stated of Milei.
Noem is the third cupboard official to go to Milei in Argentina this 12 months, following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The previous South Dakota governor was additionally pictured Monday driving on horseback alongside Argentine Nationwide Safety Minister Patricia Bullrich in what seemed to be a heat welcome for the DHS head, in addition to watching a conventional dance efficiency.
