‘False Tourist’: Milei starts barring Brazilians from entering Argentina

Reports of Brazilians who are unable to enter Argentina have gained volume in recent days. Under the government of Javier Milei – who, like other far-right leaders, harbors a hatred against immigrants – the country has restricted the entry of foreigners on the grounds of “fake tourists”.

The artifice, according to a report from Uolwas used by the migration area during the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1980s to prevent the entry, mainly, of Latin Americans, according to a consultation with Diego Morales, from the Center for Legal and Social Studies of Argentina.

The “fake tourist” seal resurrected by Milei comes to fulfill his promise of making it difficult for students from other countries to study there.

These have been the main targets for preventing entry. Reports gathered by the report show that even with proof of enrollment in Argentine institutions, Brazilians and other people from South America have been prevented from entering – which does not mean deportation.

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And the abstract justification has also affected real tourists, as many of them, because they do not have a return ticket already purchased, have been identified as potential students and also classified as “fake tourists”, returning to Brazil with their vacations frustrated.

It is important to highlight that through Mercosur, the movement of people from member countries for tourism is free for a period of 90 days, which can be doubled. There is even no need for a passport, only with an ID (issued less than 10 years ago) Brazilians can enter neighboring countries.

Furthermore, relations for Brazilians are (or were) even easier, as a bilateral agreement that has been in force since 2004 allows Brazilians to begin the process of establishing permanent residence in the same period mentioned above, after settling in temporarily.

Numbers

According to the investigation, at least 10 thousand Brazilians are in Argentine universities, out of a population of 90 thousand residents, according to Itamaraty last year.

The main focus is free medical courses offered by the country’s public universities, or even paid courses, but with more affordable prices than those offered in Brazil.

In terms of tourism, 20% of foreigners who went to visit the land of Messi and Maradona were Brazilians last year, which demonstrates an important revenue stream for the ‘hermanos’.

With the news about the classification of “fake tourists” for both students and real tourists, the Brazilian Consulate asks for attention to the documentation required before traveling. Although in practice the return ticket has not been charged in recent times, it has now been requested by the immigration authorities, even violating the bilateral agreement.

*UOL information. Red Edition, Murilo da Silva.