The United States has announced actions against Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, former president of Argentina, and Julio Miguel De Vido, former Minister of Planning of Argentina, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in office. The announcement states that both individuals and their immediate family members are now generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
According to the statement, Fernandez de Kirchner and De Vido exploited their positions to orchestrate and benefit financially from numerous bribery schemes related to public works contracts, leading to millions of dollars being misappropriated from the Argentine government. The release notes that multiple courts have convicted both figures for corruption, which has negatively impacted public and investor confidence in the Argentine government.
The United States emphasizes its ongoing efforts to ensure accountability for public officials who misuse their power for personal gain. The designations of Fernandez de Kirchner and De Vido are indicative of this commitment to tackling corruption globally, including at high governmental levels.
The stated actions fall under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. This section, as renewed by the Continuing Appropriations, 2025, mandates the Secretary of State to designate foreign officials and their immediate family members when there is credible information on their involvement in significant corruption or significant human rights violations.