Milei bars foreigners over Argentina 'hate' messages

Argentine President Javier Milei imposed an emergency decree Thursday barring or expelling foreigners deemed to have spread or incited “hate messages” against Argentina or its people, drawing opposition criticism and legal concerns over how it would be enforced.

The decree is already in force but needs parliamentary approval to remain law. Milei said it responded to “recent displays of hostility against the Argentine republic and Argentines.” It says it does not affect constitutionally protected rights to express political, academic or ideological disagreements.

Opposition parties criticised the measure. Leonel Chiarella, president of the centrist Radical Civic Union party, said on X that “the president's decree is unconstitutional” and that Argentina's Congress “should expressly reject it.” Opposition lawmaker Agustin Rossi said on X that the decree “mimics the anti-immigration logic of Trump.”

Lucia Galoppo, an international law specialist at the Center for Legal and Social Studies, told AFP the measure “leaves too many grey areas,” including what would count as hate speech, how it would be defined and how people producing such speech would be identified.

A legislative committee will review the urgency of the measure. It will then be examined by both deputies and senators, and will only be thrown out if rejected by both chambers.

Milei appeared to be referring to public reactions after Argentina's recent World Cup final loss against Spain. On Sunday, he criticised Brazil, Mexico and the US Democratic Party over what he called an “anti-Argentine campaign.”

FIFA is investigating the behaviour of several Argentina players in the loss, including alleged assault and unsporting behaviour. FIFA will also investigate an incident after Argentina's 2-1 semi-final victory over England in which players held up a banner reading: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Falklands are Argentine.”

Sociologist Ivan Schuliaquer said Argentina has historically received immigrants from many places and said Milei was “taking advantage of a climate in society.”