Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on immigration and integration policy around the world.
Argentina is contending with a severe economic crisis, fostering a xenophobic backlash that has centered on the country's immigrant population. In a break from its long history of welcoming immigration, the current administration has introduced curbs on immigrants to Argentina.
Argentina has long been a welcoming destination for generations of immigrants, but in recent years, xenophobic and discriminatory sentiments have risen in visibility amid a severe economic crisis. The administration of President Mauricio Macri has responded by placing some curbs on immigration to Argentina, although their impacts have so far been limited. In an interview with WPR, Guillermo Cantor, research director at the American Immigration Council, discusses Argentina’s history as a regional hub for immigration and the factors that are now causing some Argentines to think twice about welcoming more immigrants.