Scoop: DHS snubs Argentina delegation in "embarrassing" delay of visa deal
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Argentina Security Minister Patricia Bullrich shake hands during Noem's visit to Argentina in July. Photo: Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
The Department of Homeland Security blindsided Argentina last week by unexpectedly pausing a visa-waiver agreement as officials from Buenos Aires were already en route to Washington to sign the deal, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
Why it matters: The apparent diplomatic snub was the result of a lack of communication and organization by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, two sources with knowledge of the situation tell Axios.
Context: In July, Noem signed a statement of intent with Argentinian officials for the visa-waiver agreement. But Noem didn't first tell Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio of the major international decision, Axios first reported.
- Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles then penned a memo reminding all officials that they needed prior authorization to execute such agreements.
Zoom in: The U.S. has grown closer to Argentina under that nation's new president, Javier Milei. Noem praised Milei in a press release in which she pledged to try to readmit his country's citizens to the Visa Waiver Program, which allows foreigners to visit the U.S. for 90 days without a visa.
- As part of the deal, Argentina agreed to stop using Chinese-made computer systems and software for customs-related matters in favor of U.S. vendors, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
- But Rubio's State Department has had concerns about a corruption scandal that's nagging at Milei's administration, and wanted to have more discussions with Argentina about that before striking a visa agreement, the source said.
The intrigue: No one from the U.S. government appears to have communicated those concerns to Argentina before a delegation from that nation left Buenos Aires for what it thought would be a Monday ceremony to sign the final visa-waiver agreement.
- Argentina dispatched a high-level official — Juan Pazo, the head of Argentina's tax and customs agency called ARCA — to attend the signing in Washington.
- When Pazo and others arrived in Miami en route to D.C., however, DHS told the delegation not to continue its trip because the agreement was "missing a signature," according to the source. The Argentinian officials also were told about the U.S. concerns over the corruption issue.
- After two days in Miami, the Argentinian delegation went back home without a visa deal.
What they're saying: "Let's just say this was not a great look from us," a senior Trump administration official told Axios. "It's embarrassing."
- DHS declined to comment on the miscommunication or whose signature was missing on the relevant document.
- "There is no new or additional VWP-related document pending signature with Argentina," a senior DHS official told Axios in a written statement that used the initials for the visa-waiver program. "We look forward to working with them going forward."
- After publication of this story, another DHS official said a different agreement was supposed to be signed with Argentinian officials, but the person could not say why the foreign delegation believed a visa-waiver agreement was to be signed or why they went home with no signature on any document.
Later on Wednesday, DHS disputed the notion that a visa-waiver agreement was to be discussed with Argentina.
- Pazo did not return a WhatsApp message or a call to Axios. The press office for Argentina's government said in a statement: "Per longstanding department policy, we won't discuss the details of private diplomatic conversations. We refer to you DHS for more information."
- Both governments did say they're working well together.
This story has been updated with additional comments from DHS.
