Trump to loosen visa restrictions for Argentinians in nod to ally Milei
Noem was hosted for related talks in Buenos Aires by Argentinian President Javier Milei, who famously carried a chainsaw during his 2023 election campaign as a symbol of his cost-cutting promises.
'Under President Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States—more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations,' Noem said in a statement on planned changes to the US Visa Waiver Program.
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4 Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem gives a thumb's up next to Argentinian President Javier Milei and one of his trademark chainsaws.
Argentinian Presidency/AFP via Getty Images
'Argentina now has the lowest visa overstay rate in all of Latin America and 25 percent more Argentines traveled to the US in the first four months of this year compared to last year—the biggest jump of any of the top 20 international arrivals,'' she said.
'That is why we are now taking steps to allow Argentina back into the Visa Waiver Program,'' she said of the South American country, which was booted from it in 2002 over economic and security concerns.
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The move is seen as a large win for Argentina, especially as the US heads toward more restrictive policies on foreign nationals and increasing deportations of illegal migrants.
Argentina's planned return into the program — which currently includes 42 countries — comes amid President Trump's close relationship with the right-wing Milei.
4 Noem rides horses with Argentine National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich during a visit to a military base Monday.
Getty Images
Chile is the only other country in South America that is on the exclusive list, which includes mostly European countries, some Asian countries, Israel and Qatar.
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Noem traveled to Argentina personally to sign a statement with Argentinian officials on the visa program.
Both she and Milei were pictured Monday giving a thumb's up next to a golden and red chainsaw — a nod to the one he gave Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk at CPAC.
4 Noem watches a traditional 'gaucho' dance in Argentina as part of her state visit.
via REUTERS
Milei had presented onetime Trump buddy Musk with the power tool in February with the inscription, 'Viva la libertad, carajo,' Spanish for 'Long live liberty, damn it.'
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At the time, Musk oversaw Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency. He has since had a major falling-out with Trump.
But Trump and Milei's relationship is apparently still going strong.
4 Noem (second from left) traveled to Argentina to announce the US is set to welcome its citizens back into America's Visa Waiver Program
Argentinian Presidency/AFP via Getty Images
Milei was one of the only international leaders on stage at Trump's inauguration, has attended galas at Mar-a-Lago and received glowing praise from the commander-in-chief.
'Even Argentina, they went MAGA,' Trump said in a March speech in Richmond, Va.
'You know Argentina. Great guy. He's a big Trump guy. He loves Trump. I love him because he loves Trump,'' the president said of Milei.
Noem is the third cabinet official to visit Milei in Argentina this year, following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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The former South Dakota governor was also pictured Monday riding on horseback alongside Argentine National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in what appeared to be a warm welcome for the DHS head, as well as watching a traditional dance performance.
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