Scoop: DHS snubs Argentina delegation in "embarrassing" delay of visa deal

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.A DHS official disputed the notion that a visa-waiver agreement was to be discussed with Argentina.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.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."This story has been updated with additional comment from DHS.

Comments

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Scoop: Biden world explodes at Kamala Harris' new book

Scoop: Biden officials raised concerns with how he issued pardons, used autopen

Carlyle raises $20bn to scoop up ageing private equity stakes

Scoop: List of jobs covered by Trump's "no tax on tips" (See if you qualify)

Scoop: White House accuses Europe of prolonging Ukraine war

Scoop: Inside Trump's Gaza meeting with Tony Blair and Jared Kushner

Sixties Scoop survivor returns home to Manitoba 50 years later

Scoop: Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to brief Trump on Gaza post-war plans

Shocking moment helicopter spins out of control and crashes into lake while scooping water to fight wildfires in France

Scoop: Democrats weigh mini-convention before 2026 midterms

Scoop: Dan Scavino takes over hiring in Trump's White House

Helicopter tackling forest fire crashes into lake while scooping water

Scoop: Trump plans executive order to end "cashless bail" in D.C.

Scoop: Trump seeks "Apple Store-like experience" for government websites

One scoop or two? Bear found eating strawberry ice cream behind counter of Lake Tahoe store

Scoop: White House hands down loyalty ratings for hundreds of companies

As Trump Pushes International Students Away, Asian Schools Scoop Them Up

Scoop: White House suspicious of Lewandowski's "temp" work

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Russia shows off conventional and nuclear military might in drills — and raises tensions with NATO

Tyson Foods to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup in brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm

A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know

Luigi Mangione due in court amid double jeopardy fight in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing

National park to remove exhibit of famed photograph showing former slave’s scarred back, says report

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Poland asks Nato to impose no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop Putin’s drone incursions

Drills in Belarus and drone incursions into Romania: How the war in Ukraine has already become a European conflict

E-bike battery fire displaces 11 people from Vancouver home

Drought level in the Okanagan increases under new provincial system

Brit tourist 'puts men to shame' in Benidorm with astonishing record break

'Tinder Swindler' con artist arrested in Georgia

Senate clears Trump pick Miran to Fed board ahead of key interest rate vote

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Wellington Bridge closure worries small business owners in west-central Edmonton

Recreate our favourite beauty looks from TIFF 2025

Lethbridge first responders celebrate 1 year of youth initiative

Bridgeland business speaks out about street being ripped up 3 times in a year

Alberta takes teachers’ union to labour board over accusations of false claims

Schwarzenegger decries polarization, criticizes Newsom's gerrymandering effort

Face-to-face with Zelenskyy, his frustration is clear

Zelenskyy makes demand of Trump - and issues warning to NATO

Republicans dare Democrats on avoiding government shutdown

Trump nominee Miran confirmed to Fed ahead of rate decision

Scoop: A group of House Democrats has a steep demand list to stop a shutdown

Republicans scramble to kick Ilhan Omar off committees over her Charlie Kirk comments

SEC "prioritizing" Trump bid to change public company reporting rules

Thousands flagged to face "consequences" for cheering Charlie Kirk's death

Appeals court rules Fed governor Cook can continue to serve

Queer advocacy group asks mayor, council to declare Calgary a sanctuary city

California man steals ambulance from paramedics attending fatal stabbing near high school, say cops

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Elon Musk piggybacks Tommy Robinson and brings his troll show to Britain after being banished from the White House

SC lawmaker wants to pull funding from major college over three faculty members’ alleged Charlie Kirk comments

Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections

Lone survivor of East Vancouver triple stabbing dies in hospital

Trump deploys U.S. troops to Memphis in ‘replica’ of D.C. crime crackdown

Saskatchewan family demands action after 2-year-long murder investigation

Israel, U.S. show unity as other allies condemn attack on Qatar

The US and China have a new TikTok “deal”

First deportation flight to France ‘stalled after last-minute challenge’

Historically Black colleges see funding boost despite Trump's war on DEI

Trump sending National Guard to Memphis, says Chicago's "probably next"

US Army reveals Typhon missile system in Japan as tensions rise with China

B.C. company takes Saskatchewan government to court over firefighting aviation contract

Riders unveil Co-op Community Zone at Mosaic Stadium with more than 2,000 low-cost seats

Three dead babies found in a Pennsylvania home weeks after a woman was evicted: cops

Why Trump blimp won’t make an appearance at this week’s UK state visit

Trump sends National Guard to Memphis after DC takeover and eyes Chicago next

New Mexico man shot and killed two workers at auto parts store over free oil cans, cops say

MTG calls for a ‘national divorce’ and for left leaners to split from the conservatives in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting

Democratic lawmaker wants drones at public events to scope out and stop assassinations

Southern resident orca mother seen pushing deceased calf

27 sickened by salmonella in outbreak linked to dog food and treats

Police issue arrest warrant for Ontario mother who allegedly fled to Russia with child

Blue Jays select Yesavage to big-league roster

Could passenger-only vessels be part of BC Ferries’ future?

Indian Activist Passes Five Years in Pretrial Detention

The Age of the Meme Shooter Is Here