A City police officer who was off duty intervened in a robbery that occurred at the Lomas de Zamora train station and managed to recover a neighbor's cell phone.
The incident gained attention after images of the procedure were circulated, in which the officer warned one of the thieves, who was a foreigner: "Here, the one who steals and is a foreigner goes outside".
The phrase went viral along with the victim's acknowledgment, who had purchased the phone just five hours earlier and ended up recovering it thanks to the officer's intervention.
The information was disseminated by the media Lomasconectado, based on the testimony of the woman, identified as Lucii, who decided to share her gratitude in the community group.
According to her account, the incident occurred around 7 PM when she was a victim of the robbery amid the flow of passengers. In those circumstances, she managed to grab one of the individuals involved and received help from a City Police officer who was traveling on the train back home.
The officer, identified as Abel, was off duty but decided to intervene. According to the victim's account, he managed to hold three suspects until other uniformed officers arrived, which allowed her to recover her phone.
In this context, in a video that went viral on social media, the police officer was seen confronting the detained criminal and warning him about his situation as a criminal and a foreigner.
The criminals.
"There’s no turning back, nothing here, this is no longer Argentina for anyone. Here, the one who steals and is a foreigner goes outside", he stated, in relation to the reforms implemented by the Government of Javier Milei, which allow for the deportation of all types of foreign criminals.
The officer's assistance did not end with the arrest of those involved. The woman recounted that Abel also accompanied her to the police station and stayed with her until two in the morning while she filed the corresponding report.
"He didn't hesitate for a second to help", Lucii emphasized as she publicly thanked the officer's actions. She also expressed: "An honor to meet people like him, an excellent person".
Milei's Immigration Reforms
The police officer's warning also highlighted the changes introduced by Milei's Government regarding immigration. Through DNU 366/2025, published in May of that year, the Executive modified the Immigration Law 25.871 and expanded the reasons that can lead to the cancellation of residencies and subsequent expulsion of foreigners.
Previously, a firm conviction for intentional crimes with sentences exceeding three years or for specific crimes such as drug trafficking was required. With the reform, any foreigner who commits a crime in Argentina can be expelled regardless of the length of the sentence, including minor offenses.
Additionally, the reform incorporated new grounds that prevent entry and stay in the country, including convictions and certain criminal records, as well as situations of flagrance for public action crimes that may lead to a suspension of the trial or an alternative measure.
Thus, the modifications promoted by Milei tightened the legal tools available for the State to proceed with the expulsion of foreigners who commit crimes, through the corresponding immigration procedures.
