Argentina
(South America)

Argentina, whose economy was based on farm exports, was hit very hard by the Great Depression. A military coup replaced the democratically elected president with a general. There was pushback against immigration and restrictive laws were put in place. No new visas were being issued after 1937.

1938 memorandum on “Work Permits and Citizenship in South American Countries - Argentina
1938 memorandum on “Work Permits and Citizenship in South American Countries. The section on Argentina discusses immigration restrictions enforced during the 1930s.

Economy and Politics

The Great Depression hit Argentina very hard because the country’s primary exports were farm products, and the demand for such products shrank immediately in Europe and the United States. The government then had trouble paying their public workers, which caused public unrest. Democratically elected President Hipolito Yrigoyen was deposed in a military coup led by General José Félix Uriburu.

Immigration

Jews began immigrating from Eastern Europe into Argentina after World War I. However, this rush of immigration was blocked as barriers were put up for those trying to enter the country.

In 1936 and 1937, 8,500 refugees were admitted. However, after May 1937 no new visas were being issued. After the Evian Conference in 1938, Argentina continued to restrict immigration. The country required immigrants to acquire a landing permit to assess the potential immigrant’s ability to successfully assimilate into Argentinian society.