Overview
- The New York Times, citing U.S. government documents and sources, reports advanced negotiations on a mechanism to transfer certain migrants from the United States to Argentina as a transit point.
- Under the proposal, people detained soon after irregular entry to the U.S. would be housed temporarily in Argentina before being sent to their countries of origin.
- U.S. State Department and Argentina’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on diplomatic talks, while President Javier Milei publicly denied such negotiations through an allied post.
- U.S. records cited by the Times indicate Argentine official Juan Manuel Navarro submitted a proposal this month and Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno signaled willingness to proceed, though no deal has been finalized.
- Argentine officials have raised concerns over costs, limited housing and transport capacity, and potential public backlash, as the talks align with President Donald Trump’s broader deportation strategy that includes similar arrangements with countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama and Eswatini; prior U.S. deportation flights to Argentina involved only Argentine nationals.