The United States and Argentina stated on Monday that they are developing a strategy to enable Argentine travelers to visit the U.S. without requiring a visa.
It may take two to three years before Argentine passport holders can travel without a visa, but the Trump administration’s initiative to begin the process demonstrated backing for President Javier Milei, their most ardent supporter in South America and a favorite among conservatives globally.
The gesture occurred during a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, for private meetings with Milei and his aides. Noem signed the intent statement together with Security Minister Patricia Bullrich in Milei’s office.
Noem, riding a horse at the vast Campo De Mayo military base in the country, and wearing a cowboy hat and jeans, stated to reporters that the Trump administration would place Argentina on an “accelerated path” toward joining the Visa Waiver Program.
Nevertheless, she warned that obtaining approval within the next year “would be extremely challenging,” as reported in a White House pool report.
The Homeland Security Department commended Milei for altering Argentina’s foreign policy to align with that of the United States.
“Under the leadership of President Javier Milei, Argentina is emerging as an even more robust ally to the United States — showing greater dedication than ever to securing the borders of both countries,” the statement noted.
This initial step in eliminating visa requirements for Argentines, it noted, “demonstrates our robust collaboration with Argentina and our shared commitment to encourage legal travel while preventing risks.”
The department mentioned Argentina as the country with the lowest visa overstay rate in the U.S. among Latin American nations.
A devoted supporter of Trump in South America
Eliminating strict U.S. visa rules—especially during a period when President Trump is increasing limitations on foreign visitors—would provide a symbolic win for Milei, an individual who identifies as an “anarcho-capitalist” and gained influence as a far-right figure who emulated Trump’s anti-woke stance and effective social media strategies.
When he was the first world leader to visit Trump following the U.S. election, Milei acted like an enthusiastic student at Mar-a-Lago.
At the Conservative Political Action Committee gathering in Washington in February, he presented billionaire Elon Musk with a chainsaw symbolizing the removal of red tape to back his DOGE initiative aimed at reducing government inefficiency.
While not participating in the far-right, pro-Trump speaking circuit, Milei is dedicated to stabilizing South America’s second-largest economy following years of instability under left-wing populist leadership. By implementing strict budget reductions and widespread job cuts, Milei has managed to reduce Argentina’s high double-digit inflation.
The final time Argentines were not required to have a visa when entering the U.S. occurred in the 1990s, during the tenure of the late former President Carlos Menem, who was a strong advocate of free-market policies.
The neoliberal policies implemented by Menem and the fixed exchange rate of the peso to the U.S. dollar led to the decline of Argentina’s industrial sector, increasing poverty in a nation that was once among the richest in the world a hundred years ago.
During the subsequent crisis, the U.S. reinstated visa restrictions in 2002 as young Argentines attempting to escape hardship gathered at European embassies and started to migrate to the U.S. without proper authorization.
“Argentina previously benefited from the program, and they aim to get back on track and re-enroll,” Noem, who was raised on a farm in rural South Dakota, mentioned while giving sugar cubes to a dark brown horse called Abundance, as reported by the pool.
When questioned about her conversations with Milei, she provided few details, mentioning that they talked about security alliances and “the business we could be doing together.” She expressed appreciation for Milei’s “embrace” of Trump’s policies.
The Argentine leadership referred to Monday’s initial agreement as “a clear example of the strong relationship, built on trust” between Milei and Trump.
After taking Abundance across the grassy fields of the military base, Noem returned to join U.S. and Argentine officials forasado— the classic barbecue centered around meat and a national favorite.
She is the third individual from Trump’s Cabinet to have met Milei in Buenos Aires this year, following U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Strict restrictions on travel to Trump’s United States
Over 40 primarily European and affluent Asian nations are part of an elite group that permits their citizens to enter the U.S. without a visa for a period of three months. Nevertheless, immigration officials hold the authority to deny entry to any individual.
Approximately 20 million visitors participate in the program annually. At present, Chile is the sole Latin American nation included in the initiative.
International travel to the U.S. dropped during the initial period of Trump’s return to the White House, with travelers, particularly from Latin America, worried about getting caught in the administration’s strict border enforcement. Some individuals canceled their trips as a form of protest against his foreign policy and anti-immigrant statements.
However, these figures started to recover in April, with over 3 million international visitors — an 8% increase compared to the previous year — from nations outside of Mexico and Canada, as reported by the International Trade Administration, a division within the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Besides tightening control at the southern border, Trump has introduced more challenges for students, travelers, and others attempting to enter the United States.
The newly introduced “big, beautiful” domestic agenda bill proposes the implementation of a new “visa integrity fee” amounting to $250, which will be added to the existing visa cost.
Executives in the travel sector have voiced worries that the fee might deter tourists, who provide over $2 trillion each year and support 9 million jobs within the U.S. economy, as reported by the International Trade Administration.
Approximately one-fourth of all visitors to the United States originate from Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the agency.
Flights coming from Argentina have risen by 25% this year — a larger growth rate than from any other nation.
Debre and Goodman contribute to the Associated Press. Goodman covered events in Medellin, Colombia.
This narrative first was published inLos Angeles Times.
