Argentine President Javier Milei has imposed a bar on foreigners who express "hate" toward the Latin American country, which he claims is the target of a sinister campaign.
In a statement on Thursday, Milei said the measure was in response to "recent displays of hostility against the Argentine republic and Argentines."
The measure bars or expels foreigners deemed to have "spread or incited hate messages" against the country or its people.
The ultraliberal leader appeared to be referring to public reactions to Argentina's recent World Cup final loss against Spain.
The decree follows his claims on Sunday that leftist administrations elsewhere in the Americas were leading an "anti-Argentine campaign."
It states that it does not impinge on constitutionally protected rights to express political, academic or ideological disagreements.
The measure generated immediate backlash among opposition parties.
Leonel Chiarella, president of the centrist Radical Civic Union party, said in a post on X that "the president's decree is unconstitutional" and argued that Argentina's Congress "should expressly reject it."
"National sovereignty is defended by safeguarding the heritage of the Argentines and integrating the community without unnecessary divisions. Sovereignty is defended by respecting the National Constitution."
Opposition lawmaker Agustin Rossi said on X that the decree "mimics the anti-immigration logic of (US President Donald) Trump."
A legislative committee will review the urgency of the measure, which will then be examined by both deputies and senators and will only be thrown out if rejected by both chambers.
World Cup loss
The president appears to be hurting over Argentina's World Cup loss and events that followed the football final.
On Sunday, he lashed out at Brazil, Mexico and the US Democratic Party over what he claimed was an "anti-Argentine campaign" — apparently in reference to widespread criticism of the national team's performance in the last match.
Global football body FIFA is investigating the behaviour of several Argentina players in the loss, including alleged assault and unsporting behaviour.
FIFA will also investigate an incident following Argentina's 2-1 semi-final victory over England in which players held up a banner that read: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentine).
