Argentina’s new citizenship-by-investment program under President Javier Milei offers citizenship to foreigners investing over $500,000, sparking debate over sovereignty, inequality, and neoliberal policies.

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In a bold and contentious move, Argentina’s government led by far-right economist Javier Milei announced plans to grant citizenship to foreigners who invest at least $500,000 in the country. This initiative, part of a sweeping immigration reform, aims to attract foreign capital by creating a specialized agency within the Ministry of Economy to oversee the program.

The government justifies the measure as a way to stimulate economic growth and job creation, but critics warn it commodifies citizenship and deepens social inequalities in a nation still grappling with neoliberal austerity and external pressures.

The citizenship-by-investment scheme epitomizes the neoliberal logic that treats public goods and rights as commodities. By tying nationality to financial capacity, the Milei administration effectively prioritizes wealthy investors over ordinary migrants and citizens, undermining the principle of equal citizenship.

This policy is a continuation of the structural adjustment agendas that have historically eroded Latin American sovereignty and social protections. The new agency, modeled after U.S. investment promotion bodies, signals Argentina’s deeper alignment with global capital interests rather than the needs of its working class and marginalized communities.

Progressive parties and social movements across Latin America have expressed solidarity with those opposing this initiative, framing it as a neoliberal assault on national dignity and social justice. Critics highlight that Argentina’s working people face austerity measures, cuts to public services, and rising inequality, while the government opens the door to wealthy foreigners seeking passports.

The program also coincides with stricter immigration controls and deportations targeting vulnerable migrants, revealing a contradictory stance that favors capital mobility over human rights. Feminist and indigenous groups warn that such policies threaten the social fabric and call for a migration policy rooted in solidarity, inclusion, and respect for sovereignty.

As Argentina embarks on this controversial path, the broader Latin American left insists on reclaiming migration and citizenship as collective rights, not privileges for the rich. The fight against Law 462 in Panama and similar neoliberal reforms across the region reflects a shared resistance to policies that deepen inequality and erode sovereignty.

For many, true national strength lies in protecting the rights of all residents,regardless of wealth,and building economies that serve people, not just investors. The coming months will test Argentina’s social movements and international solidarity networks as they confront the Milei government’s agenda and advocate for a just, inclusive future.

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