Argentinian officials forced to fly home from US after Kristi Noem failed to inform them visa ceremony was canceled: report

A delegation from Argentina, which arrived in the United States for a visa-waiver signing ceremony, was forced to return home empty-handed after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem failed to inform them that the event had been canceled, Axios reported.

Last week, a group of officials flew from Buenos Aires to Miami, where they were told by the Department of Homeland Security not to continue their trip to Washington, D.C., because the agreement - which would allow American and Argentinian citizens to travel between the two countries for up to 90 days without a visa - was “missing a signature,” a source told Axios.

The Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials have denied the allegations in Axios’s reporting and said that the program continues to move forward.

In an X post, DHS pushed back on the original report and said that there were no new program-related documents needing a signature. The department said it "looks forward" to working with Argentine officials going forward.

But per the report, the officials, including the head of Argentina’s tax and customs agency, Juan Pazo, spent two days in Miami and then returned home.

“Let’s just say this was not a great look from us,” a senior Trump administration official told Axios, adding that it was “embarrassing.”

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The incident appeared preventable. Noem allegedly knew that the Visa Waiver Program signing would not take place because Secretary of State Marco Rubio had not fully approved it yet.

Sources close to the Argentine Embassy in the U.S. told Infobae, an Argentine news outlet, that Axios’s report was “false and malicious” and that discussions about incorporating Argentina in the Visa Waiver Program were moving forward without issues.

Pazo also denied the report, saying the delegation traveled to the U.S. to discuss technology upgrades that Argentina’s customs may need to move forward with the Visa Waiver Program.

“We met with the CBP team and carried out the necessary operational visits to define the technical aspects of implementing the program (equipment, systems support, and personnel),” Pazo said.

“It was three days of work and cooperation with U.S. government authorities, which in no way matches what the press articles are trying to portray. Finally, I must clarify that the ARCA delegation’s visit has nothing to do with the implementation of the Visa Waiver Program,” he added.

In July, Noem visited Argentina with the intention of starting discussions to help the country reenter the Visa Waiver Program.

Relations between the U.S. and Argentina have warmed since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Argentinian President Javier Milei has aligned himself with Trump, even calling Trump his “favorite president.”

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"Under President Javier Milei's leadership, Argentina is becoming an even stronger friend to the United States — more committed than ever to border security for both of our nations," Noem said in July.

However, Noem signed a visa waiver accord with Argentina, indicating the two countries would work toward a more formal agreement, without the Secretary of State’s prior approval, Axios also reported.

That situation reportedly ticked off the Secretary of State. Weeks later, Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent a memo reminding administration officials to “clear the purpose and scope of any proposed call, conversation, meeting or trip with the [National Security Council] prior to engagement.”

The State Department has not been eager to sign a Visa Waiver Program agreement with Argentina because Milei has been battling a corruption scandal. Milei’s sister and close associates have been accused of profiting from a bribery scheme, which Milei has denied.

Rubio’s team reportedly wants to have more discussions with Argentina before striking an official agreement, according to Axios.

It is unclear whether a signature was missing from an agreement.

A Department of Homeland Security official denied that there was a new, or additional, agreement with Argentina pending a signature. "We look forward to working with them going forward,” an official told Axios.

The article was amended after publication to include denials from both the Department of Homeland Security and Argentine officials that there were issues with the flight or the program. Both groups denied the original report and pushed the fact the waiver program continues to move forward.