Latest news with #PatriciaBullrich
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows Countries That Are Part of US Visa Waiver Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Monday that Argentina was likely to rejoin the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing visa-free travel to the U.S. Noem said that part of the reason for the move was a rise in Argentinian tourism to the U.S. in the past year, along with low visa overstays. Why It Matters Adding a country to the VWP takes time and requires it to meet strict security requirements, but getting on the list means a far easier process for nationals visiting the U.S., including avoiding a new $250 "visa integrity fee" being introduced by the Trump administration. What To Know The VWP allows visitors to the U.S., including those traveling for business, to spend up to 90 days in the country without needing to apply for a visitor visa, with some caveats. There are currently 41 nations on the list, with Chile the only other South American country as of July 2025. Nationals from these countries have to apply for a what is known as an ESTA, through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ahead of traveling, and must be approved by the U.S. Department of State through this. An ESTA currently costs $21 per application, but this will rise to $40 from October 1, 2025, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While that cost may affect some travelers, it will still be less than for those from other countries applying for a B visitor visa, which costs $185. That will soon have the $250 visa integrity fee added on top. For VWP applicants, there are certain criteria that must be met. The State Department will not approve ESTAs for those who: Have traveled to or been present in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen since March 1, 2011 Have traveled to or been present in Cuba since January 12, 2021 Are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria. The VWP is also not applicable to those coming to the U.S. to study for credit, for employment, to work as foreign press or other media, or to live as a permanent resident. All of these require different immigration pathways. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (L) and Argentina's Security Minister Patricia Bullrich shake hands after signing a bilateral agreement at the Casa Rosada government palace in Buenos Aires on July 28, 2025. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (L) and Argentina's Security Minister Patricia Bullrich shake hands after signing a bilateral agreement at the Casa Rosada government palace in Buenos Aires on July 28, 2025. ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images As for Argentina—which was part of the VWP until 2002 when economic instability and concerns around illegal immigration were raised during the Bush administration—it will have to comply with the American rules in order to rejoin. According to the State Department, a country has to share enhanced law enforcement and security-related data with the U.S., issue e-passports, have a low visitor-visa refusal rate, timely reporting of passport issues, and be able to prove it maintains high counter-terrorism, law enforcement, and border controls. In the Department of Homeland Security's press release on the intention to get Argentina back on the VWP, Noem said Argentina now had the lowest visa overstay rate in Latin America. What People Are Saying U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a press release: "Argentina now has the lowest visa overstay rate in all of Latin America and 25 percent more Argentines traveled to the U.S. in the first four months of this year compared to last year—the biggest jump of any of the top 20 international arrivals. That is why we are now taking steps to allow Argentina back into the Visa Waiver Program. "This statement of intent I signed alongside Minister Werthein and Minister Bullrich highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats. This kind of diplomatic leadership, spearheaded by President Trump, will help increase the safety of both countries." Republican Florida Representative Maria Salazar, on X: "This marks a powerful step toward restoring trust, deepening U.S.-Argentina ties, and bringing Argentina back onto the world stage. Under [Javier Milei], Argentina is emerging as a regional model of economic freedom, transparency, and strong democratic values." What's Next Argentina will have to be vetted further by the U.S. government before it can rejoin the VWP.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in boost to right-wing ally
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The United States and Argentina on Monday announced that they are working on a plan to allow Argentine tourists to again travel to the U.S. without a visa. It will likely take two to three years before visa-free travel becomes a reality for Argentine passport holders, but the signing of a preliminary agreement Monday marked a show of support by the Trump administration for President Javier Milei, its staunchest ally in South America and a darling of conservatives around the world. The move coincided with a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires for closed-door meetings with President Milei and his officials. Noem signed the statement of intent alongside Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in Milei's office. The Department of Homeland Security praised Milei in a statement for reshaping Argentina's foreign policy in line with the U.S. '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,' the statement quoted Noem as saying, adding that this first step toward Argentina's entry into the Visa Wavier Program 'highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats." The department cited Argentina as having the lowest visa overstay rate in the U.S. of any Latin American country. Trump's loyal ally in South America The removal of rigorous U.S. visa restrictions — particularly at a time when President Donald Trump is tightening restrictions for foreign nationals — would mark a symbolic victory for Milei, a self-described 'anarcho-capitalist' who rose to power as a far-right outsider mimicking Trump's war-on-woke rhetoric and skillful use of social media. When he became the first world leader to visit Trump after the U.S. election, Milei pranced around Mar-a-Lago like an excited school boy. At the Conservative Political Action Committee convention in Washington last February, he gifted billionaire Elon Musk a bureaucracy-slashing chainsaw to support his DOGE campaign to eliminate government waste. When not riding the far-right, pro-Trump speaking circuit, Milei is focused on straightening out South America's second-largest economy after years of economic turmoil under left-wing populist rule. Through tough budget cuts and mass layoffs, Milei has succeeded in driving down Argentina's notorious double-digit inflation. The last time Argentines didn't require a visa to enter the U.S. was in the 1990s when another free-market devotee, President Carlos Menem, was in power. Menem's neo-liberal reforms and pegging of the peso 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar destroyed Argentina's industry, exacerbating poverty in what a century ago was one of the world's wealthiest countries. In the economic crisis that followed, the U.S. reimposed visa restrictions in 2002 as young Argentines looking to flee misery lined up at European embassies and stated to migrate illegally to the U.S. The Argentine presidency described the signing on Monday as a 'clear demonstration of the excellent relationship' between Milei and Trump. 'This bilateral link is not limited to the commercial or economic sphere, but constitutes a strategic and comprehensive relationship based on a shared vision,' it added. Tough limits on travel to Trump's America Over 40 mostly European and wealthy Asian countries belong to the exclusive club that allows their citizens to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to three months. However, border officers have the power to turn anyone away. About 20 million tourists use the program each year. Currently, Chile is the only Latin American country in the program. Overseas travel to the U.S. plunged in the early days of Trump's return to the White House as tourists, especially from Latin America, feared being caught in the administration's border crackdown. Some canceled travel plans to protest his foreign policy and anti-immigrant rhetoric. But those numbers started to rebound in April, with more than 3 million international arrivals — 8% more than a year ago — from countries other than Mexico or Canada, according to the International Trade Administration, an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition to clamping down on the border, Trump has put up additional obstacles for students, tourists and others looking to travel to the U.S. His recently passed 'big, beautiful' bill of domestic priorities calls for the enactment of a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 to be charged in addition to the cost of the visa itself. Travel industry executives have expressed concern that it could drive away tourists who contribute more than $2 trillion annually and 9 million jobs to the U.S. economy, according to the International Trade Administration. About a quarter of all travelers to the U.S. come from Latin America and the Caribbean, the agency says. Arrivals from Argentina have jumped 25% this year — a bigger increase than from any other country. ___ Goodman reported from Medellin, Colombia.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump moves to lift visa restrictions for Argentina in boost to right-wing ally
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The United States and Argentina on Monday announced that they are working on a plan to allow Argentine tourists to again travel to the U.S. without a visa. It will likely take two to three years before visa-free travel becomes a reality for Argentine passport holders, but the signing of a preliminary agreement Monday marked a show of support by the Trump administration for President Javier Milei, its staunchest ally in South America and a darling of conservatives around the world. The move coincided with a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires for closed-door meetings with President Milei and his officials. Noem signed the statement of intent alongside Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in Milei's office. The Department of Homeland Security praised Milei in a statement for reshaping Argentina's foreign policy in line with the U.S. '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,' the statement quoted Noem as saying, adding that this first step toward Argentina's entry into the Visa Wavier Program 'highlights our strong partnership with Argentina and our mutual desire to promote lawful travel while deterring threats.' The department cited Argentina as having the lowest visa overstay rate in the U.S. of any Latin American country. Trump's loyal ally in South America The removal of rigorous U.S. visa restrictions — particularly at a time when President Donald Trump is tightening restrictions for foreign nationals — would mark a symbolic victory for Milei, a self-described 'anarcho-capitalist' who rose to power as a far-right outsider mimicking Trump's war-on-woke rhetoric and skillful use of social media. When he became the first world leader to visit Trump after the U.S. election, Milei pranced around Mar-a-Lago like an excited school boy. At the Conservative Political Action Committee convention in Washington last February, he gifted billionaire Elon Musk a bureaucracy-slashing chainsaw to support his DOGE campaign to eliminate government waste. When not riding the far-right, pro-Trump speaking circuit, Milei is focused on straightening out South America's second-largest economy after years of economic turmoil under left-wing populist rule. Through tough budget cuts and mass layoffs, Milei has succeeded in driving down Argentina's notorious double-digit inflation. The last time Argentines didn't require a visa to enter the U.S. was in the 1990s when another free-market devotee, President Carlos Menem, was in power. Menem's neo-liberal reforms and pegging of the peso 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar destroyed Argentina's industry, exacerbating poverty in what a century ago was one of the world's wealthiest countries. In the economic crisis that followed, the U.S. reimposed visa restrictions in 2002 as young Argentines looking to flee misery lined up at European embassies and stated to migrate illegally to the U.S. The Argentine presidency described the signing on Monday as a 'clear demonstration of the excellent relationship' between Milei and Trump. 'This bilateral link is not limited to the commercial or economic sphere, but constitutes a strategic and comprehensive relationship based on a shared vision,' it added. Tough limits on travel to Trump's America Over 40 mostly European and wealthy Asian countries belong to the exclusive club that allows their citizens to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to three months. However, border officers have the power to turn anyone away. About 20 million tourists use the program each year. Currently, Chile is the only Latin American country in the program. Overseas travel to the U.S. plunged in the early days of Trump's return to the White House as tourists, especially from Latin America, feared being caught in the administration's border crackdown. Some canceled travel plans to protest his foreign policy and anti-immigrant rhetoric. But those numbers started to rebound in April, with more than 3 million international arrivals — 8% more than a year ago — from countries other than Mexico or Canada, according to the International Trade Administration, an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition to clamping down on the border, Trump has put up additional obstacles for students, tourists and others looking to travel to the U.S. His recently passed 'big, beautiful' bill of domestic priorities calls for the enactment of a new 'visa integrity fee' of $250 to be charged in addition to the cost of the visa itself. Travel industry executives have expressed concern that it could drive away tourists who contribute more than $2 trillion annually and 9 million jobs to the U.S. economy, according to the International Trade Administration. About a quarter of all travelers to the U.S. come from Latin America and the Caribbean, the agency says. Arrivals from Argentina have jumped 25% this year — a bigger increase than from any other country. ___ Goodman reported from Medellin, Colombia.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Argentina arrests 12 suspects linked to Tren de Aragua gang
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's security minister said on Thursday that 12 suspects were arrested for criminal acts linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group that the country classifies as a terrorist organization. "It is a highly dangerous gang and today 12 of its members are in prison", Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said in a press conference in Buenos Aires. Bullrich also said the group had carried out attacks on supermarkets, butcher shops, hardware stores using firearms and explosives and caused fatalities. The U.S. State Department designated the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a global terrorist organization in February saying it posed a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy and economic interests. Meanwhile, Venezuelan government has maintained that the gang, with prison origins, was destroyed during raids in 2023 and no longer exists. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Argentina arrests 12 suspects linked to Tren de Aragua gang
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina's security minister said on Thursday that 12 suspects were arrested for criminal acts linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group that the country classifies as a terrorist organization. "It is a highly dangerous gang and today 12 of its members are in prison", Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said in a press conference in Buenos Aires. Bullrich also said the group had carried out attacks on supermarkets, butcher shops, hardware stores using firearms and explosives and caused fatalities. The U.S. State Department designated the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a global terrorist organization in February saying it posed a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy and economic interests. Meanwhile, Venezuelan government has maintained that the gang, with prison origins, was destroyed during raids in 2023 and no longer exists.
