Today, the government of Javier Milei must account before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for the modifications introduced in the law regarding refugees concerning political asylum. The hearing, requested by the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), the Argentine Commission for Refugees (CAREF), and the Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM), aims to expose the negative effects of the measures taken by the National Government.
According to CELS, in recent months, through Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) 942, key principles of protection for refugees have been changed, such as non-refoulement and confidentiality. The criticisms focus on the stigmatization and violation of the right to privacy of these individuals, who are currently part of the discourse of the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich.
In this context, CELS warns that these modifications impact the criteria for recognizing someone as a refugee, putting at risk the lives of individuals who could be returned to their countries of origin. The concern lies in the fact that a mere suspicion of association with criminal activities linked to terrorism could lead to the deportation of the person in question.
Furthermore, they point out that these governmental decisions would increase the vulnerability of refugees, especially if confidential information about them is leaked, which could expose them to those who persecute them. The aim of the hearing goes beyond discussing the regulations, also seeking to inform the IACHR about the discourses used by the Government to justify these policies.
