Implementation of fence on the border with Bolivia to prevent people’s displacement is similar to Trump’s mass deportation policies in the US. Photo: Reproduction

The Argentine government began the construction plan of a 200 meters on the border with Bolivia, in the city of Aguas Blancas, Province of Salta, as part of the Güemes plan, announced by President Javier Milei to combat drug trafficking and the smuggling. The measure, which aims to restrict irregular crossings and force the use of migration posts, has been the target of criticism from the Bolivian government and human rights organizations.

The project foresees the installation of a grid of 2.5 meters high between the bus terminal and the Aguas Blancas Immigration Post, located about 1,600 kilometers from Buenos Aires. According to local authorities, the goal is to stop the flow of smuggled goods and contain the movement of people outside the legal channels. The Argentine Ministry of Security classified the region as a “critical point” of drug trafficking and claimed that the work represents a response to the “uncontrolled” of the border.

In an official statement, the Bolivian government expressed concern about the unilateral decision, stating that such measures may undermine peaceful coexistence between the two countries. The Bolivian Chancellery highlighted the need for joint solutions to the challenges of the border, reiterating that unilateral actions do not favor the good neighborhood.

In addition to diplomatic criticism, the work generated internal controversies. Representatives of civil organizations pointed out that the fence can aggravate tensions in border communities and damage small traders who depend on daily traffic between the two countries.

The construction of the fence reflects the expansion of President Milei’s anti -migration discourse, aligned with far -right leaders as Donald Trump. Recently, Milei defended harder policies against the entry of immigrants in Argentina, arguing that this is necessary to combat increased violence and unfair competition in local commerce.

Initiatives of this type reinforce the criminalization of migration and divert the focus of structural problems, such as unemployment and social inequality. The decision also rekindles debates on the impacts of border closing policies on Latin America, marking an alignment of the Argentine government to a global conservative rhetoric.

In the center of the controversy, the communities of Aguas Blancas and Bermejo, on the Bolivian side, follow as the stage of disputes between governments, amid pressure from economic and social sectors impacted by the construction of the fence. While the Milei government defends the measure as a “necessary step”, the real effects on security and bilateral coexistence are still a source of uncertainty.

Source: vermelho.org.br



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