Milei Government to Create New Immigration Security Agency, Valenzuela to Lead

Argentina Establishes New Migration Security Agency, Modeled After U.S. Agencies

Buenos Aires – February 4, 2026 – Argentina is moving forward with the creation of a National Migration Agency, designed to strengthen border control and increase deportations of foreign nationals who commit crimes. The agency, which will operate under the Ministry of Security, represents a significant shift in the country’s approach to immigration, drawing comparisons to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol.

The initiative is a key component of President Javier Milei’s administration’s broader security policies, championed by Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva. Monteoliva confirmed on Wednesday that Diego Valenzuela, the former mayor of Tres de Febrero, will lead the new agency. While Valenzuela has not yet been formally appointed, he is expected to take the helm once the official decree is issued.

The establishment of the agency follows a recent transfer of the National Directorate of Migration to the Ministry of Security in November, a move that signaled the government’s intent to prioritize security concerns in immigration policy. Previously, immigration controls were managed by the Ministry of the Interior.

According to Monteoliva, the agency will work to “optimize border coordination, police work, and migratory intelligence to confront transnational threats.” The government believes that increased border security is essential given the current regional context of “critical violence and criminal displacement.”

The National Migration Agency will be the third agency within the Ministry of Security, joining the Federal Emergency Agency and the National Arms Registry. It will coordinate the efforts of various security forces, including the Federal Police, Airport Police, and the Gendarmerie, in combating transnational crime.

The move towards a more robust immigration enforcement system has already begun, with the government reporting a “record number” of foreigners expelled or denied entry in recent weeks. Some of these operations, involving the identification and questioning of individuals in public spaces, have drawn comparisons to tactics employed by ICE in the United States. However, officials state that current procedures primarily focus on requesting individuals to regularize their immigration status, rather than immediate deportation.

The government’s approach reflects a broader fascination with U.S. Security models, a trend described as Milei’s administration looking to the United States as an “economic backbone and ideological mirror.” Milei has also reportedly expressed interest in creating an Argentine equivalent of the FBI, with expanded powers for law enforcement.

The creation of the agency comes after a period of internal debate regarding its structure and leadership. Valenzuela’s appointment follows his election to the Buenos Aires Provincial Senate in October, from which he took a leave of absence to pursue the national position. He previously served as the first libertarian mayor of Tres de Febrero.

The agency’s mandate will focus on controlling border crossings and intensifying deportations of foreign nationals who commit crimes. The government aims to enhance the enforcement of immigration laws and address concerns about transnational criminal activity.