“They are not digital nomads, nor did they come to Argentina attracted by the exchange rate. On the contrary, they suffer from the economic crisis that the country is going through just like Argentines,” writes Ayelén Oliva for BBC News Mundo.
Despite Argentina’s enduring economic challenges, Oliva notes that many foreigners opt to remain in the country. Paige Nichols, a 36-year-old who relocated from Washington to Buenos Aires 15 years ago, describes Argentina as a multifaceted nation. Despite its potential to be overwhelming, she finds value in living within such a dynamic and creative society.
According to Oliva, out of Argentina’s population of over 46 million, more than three million are foreigners with residency status. However, this figure, which accounts for 6.5% of the population, doesn’t include unregistered immigrants, suggesting that the actual number could be significantly higher.
BBC Mundo highlights various factors that contribute to foreigners’ decision to stay in Argentina despite its challenges. These include the sense of community, positive treatment from Argentines, the vibrant atmosphere, quality universities, unique social dynamics, fresh perspectives, and lively nightlife.
Villa 31: A Cultural Hub in Buenos Aires’ Diverse Landscape
Villa 31, situated near the Port of Buenos Aires, has burgeoned into a vibrant community since 1932, initially fueled by immigrants from neighboring nations and later by workers from across Argentina. Over the years, it has evolved into a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and culinary delights, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of diversity in Buenos Aires, describes La Nacion.
Retiro, home to Villa 31, stands out as the commune with the highest concentration of foreigners in Buenos Aires, housing 54,269 foreign residents, constituting a quarter of the city’s total foreign population.
Overall, Buenos Aires boasts the highest proportion of foreign residents in Argentina, comprising 13.5% of its populace, surpassing the national average by a significant margin.
The culinary scene in Villa 31 reflects this diversity, with a gastronomic fair showcasing delicacies from Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, and beyond. Local businesses and street vendors thrive, contributing to the neighborhood’s integration with the broader city through culinary ventures and guided tours.
Beyond Villa 31, Commune 1, which encompasses Retiro and surrounding areas, leads in foreign residency, followed closely by other communes like Commune 8 and Commune 4. Notably, the Venezuelan community constitutes the largest foreign group in Buenos Aires, followed by Paraguayans, Bolivians, and Peruvians, together comprising the majority of foreign residents.
Nationally, however, Paraguay occupies the first place in the number of foreigners, not Venezuela, with 27% of the total (522,598 people). Bolivia appears in second place (338,299 people and 17.5%) and Venezuela third (161,495 residents and 8.3% of the total).
Foreigners living in Argentina come from 199 countries, but not all provinces have an immigrant from each of them. The city is the second district with the highest number of different nationalities, with a total of 176, after the province of Buenos Aires (with 190). The opposite case is La Rioja, where there are 42 different nationalities.
Bolivians in Argentina
With the advent of Milei’s government, Bolivians residing in Argentina are growing apprehensive about potential harassment and the erosion of their rights, particularly concerning amendments to Migration Law No. 25871, enacted in 2010, reports OPINIÓN.
Wilder, originally from Santa Cruz and engaged in sewing and selling dry foods in Buenos Aires, voiced his concerns in an interview for OPINIÓN: “We can’t anticipate anything positive; there’s a cloud of uncertainty, but what worries us most is the looming threat of harassment and the erosion of our rights in employment, healthcare, and education.”
Mery, a healthcare worker in Mendoza province, shared similar anxieties: “We’re anticipating unemployment and the loss of hard-earned rights. It’s not unexpected, given the signals from this administration, but I fear it could pave the way for dictatorship in the future.”
During Macri’s tenure, Decree 70/17 was enacted, allowing for the immediate expulsion of foreigners involved in criminal proceedings from the country, irrespective of circumstances, the nature of the offense, convictions, or ties to Argentina.
This fear is palpable on the streets of Liniers, where Bolivians constitute a significant demographic. Ariel, a 23-year-old Argentine of Bolivian descent and a medical student who makes ends meet selling ice cream in this bustling neighborhood, noted that with the new government in place and Patricia Bullrich as Minister of Security, surveillance has intensified this week, prompting fellow countrymen to exercise caution when venturing out. He reminisces about the challenges of vending during Bullrich’s tenure in Macri’s government.
“Many people are discontented; even those who initially supported this administration, including libertarians, are disappointed by the reversal of promises. Frankly, I’m puzzled by how children of Bolivian immigrants could have voted for Milei,” remarked Ariel.
OPINIÓN explains that Milei draws from economist Milton Friedman’s principles, that “we are all descendants of immigrants” and extols immigration as a catalyst for growth and innovation. However, he critiques the welfare system available to present-day immigrants, contrasting it with the opportunities sought by their European forebears, devoid of state support.
This perspective, however, appears rooted more in colonial-era rationale than economic pragmatism. Today’s immigrants arriving in Argentina hail not from Europe but from neighboring regions, China, or various African nations. Bolivians, in particular, have made significant contributions to Argentina’s economic and social fabric, spanning businesses, diverse job sectors, and specialized professions.
Paraguayans in Argentina
The Milei adjustment will affect Paraguayans in Argentina, and the government has no containment plan in case they need to return, states La Nacion. Cuts in public spending threaten the stability of the Paraguayan diaspora in Argentina. The chainsaw on public spending will impact the Paraguayan diaspora living in Argentina, their relatives who remain in the country, and also those thousands of Paraguayans seeking medical attention on the other side of the border, argues the press.
“Paraguayans who left our country, who went to Spain, Argentina, the United States, did so because they did not find job opportunities, quality healthcare. They went to seek a better future. But particularly Paraguayans as immigrants are brave, they are hard workers. I don’t think Paraguayans will have problems in Argentina. If they cut social programs, they cut them for everyone,” said the president regarding the cut in social programs in the neighboring country, downplaying the effects on Paraguayan migrants.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the Paraguayan community in Argentina increased from 323,962 people counted in 2001 to 658,714 in 2022, not including the children of Paraguayans born in the neighboring country, which would raise the total figure. The migratory phenomenon is dynamic and creates networks on both sides of the border, with specific poles – the capital, the province of Buenos Aires, and the bordering provinces – and remittances play a central role in these human flows.
In fact, there is a paradox. While the sending of money from Argentina to Paraguay has steadily declined over the last six years according to the Central Bank (BCP), dropping from USD 133,000,000 in 2017 to USD 25,400,000 in 2022, Argentina continues to be the main destination chosen by Paraguayan migrants. It is followed at a distance by Spain (106,000 Paraguayans), Brazil (61,000), and the United States (27,000), according to the most recent numbers from the INE.
And unlike other countries like Spain, where the migratory profile has a marked female character, in Argentina, this gender proportion is much more balanced, meaning it represents a family movement and a greater predisposition to settle in the neighboring country. This negative migratory balance (more people leave than enter Paraguay) and the sending of remittances align Paraguay more with Central American countries than with those of South America, explains La Nacion.
Many Argentines with family in Paraguay or Paraguayan residents in Buenos Aires, Formosa, Misiones, Chaco, and Corrientes who receive social assistance from the Argentine state help their relatives in Paraguay.
Venezuelans in Argentina
Larry Montes, a Venezuelan migrant, told BBC, “The day I arrived in Buenos Aires, I felt like it was my place in the world. We all know the economic situation Argentina is facing. It pains me to see what’s happening. But since I arrived in 2017, I never thought about leaving, even though before leaving Caracas, I had considered settling in Santiago de Chile. Argentina is a very welcoming country for Venezuelan migrants. In many other Latin American countries, Venezuelans are victims of xenophobia. On the contrary, in Argentina, we are a respected community. Venezuelans feel grateful to this beautiful country.”
Infobae reported on March 22nd that Venezuelans in Argentina continue to worry about Venezuela and face obstacles registering to vote due to Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Despite attempts for five consecutive days at the Embassy of Venezuela in Buenos Aires, they were unable to complete the registration process. With presidential elections set for July 28th, the situation heightens concerns about their ability to participate in the electoral process.
Activist Víctor Faza, from the civil association Alliance for Venezuela, expressed frustration, stating that out of the allocated 20 working days for registration, only 15 remain, jeopardizing the registration of over 200,000 Venezuelans in Argentina. He called on the international community to closely monitor Maduro’s regime, which he accuses of obstructing the electoral process and violating their rights.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders in Venezuela face increasing persecution. During a protest outside the Embassy in Argentina, Venezuelan migrants highlighted the disappearance of political figures like Dignora Hernández and Henry Alviárez, detained arbitrarily by Maduro’s agents. Adriana Flores, head of María Corina Machado’s campaign command, demanded proof of life for the detainees, emphasizing the urgent need for democratic guarantees and international oversight for the upcoming elections.
Despite uncertainty, Argentina is Home
Paige Nichols told BBC why she stayed: “Sometimes I jokingly say that I stay in Argentina because I enjoy suffering. Argentina has a seductive chaos. I mean that here there is space for change, transformation, creativity. However, I don’t romanticize chaos. At times, this country drives me crazy. For example, if one day I have to go to the bank, the supermarket, and the post office, it can take me up to three days: you go to the bank and there’s no system; you go to the supermarket and you can’t find half of the products you want to buy; you arrive at the post office and they’re on strike. So, then comes the question that many ask me: Why did you leave the United States, a first-world country, to live here?
That’s what many people can’t understand. Well, Argentina is rich in many ways. This country has given me everything in these 15 years I’ve been here: it gave me work, a community of friends, a chosen family, it opened doors and eyes for me. Additionally, I like the contrasts of Argentinians: the hysteria with sincerity, the desire to break the rules with respect for certain social conventions. It’s a country that forces you to always be awake.”
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
Latina Republic is dedicated to promoting regional understanding through compelling narratives, articles, interviews, and reports that emanate from the heart of the Americas. Our foremost goal is to facilitate constructive dialogue by illuminating local viewpoints frequently overshadowed by mainstream media. Our mission is to equip all stakeholders with essential insights for addressing regional issues, thus empowering them in their efforts. We are committed to portraying the victories and hardships of everyday life in Latin America, while also chronicling the progression of social movements and amplifying the voices of those at the forefront of change.
