Secretariat of the Interior (Argentina)

Last updated
Ministry of the Interior
Ministerio del Interior
MinIntARG.png
Edificio del Ministerio del Interior de Argentina.JPG
Headquarters of the Ministry
in Buenos Aires, 2010
Ministry overview
Formed1854;171 years ago (1854) [1]
Type Ministry (1854–2024)
Secretariat (2024–2025)
Ministry (2025–) [2]
Jurisdiction Government of Argentina
HeadquartersAv. 25 de Mayo 101, Buenos Aires
Annual budget $ 60,725,000 (2018) [3]
Ministry executive
  • Lisandro Catalán
Child agencies
Website argentina.gob.ar/interior

The Ministry of the Interior of Argentina is a ministry of the national executive power that manages issues pertaining to domestic politics such as immigration and co-ordination between the federal government and the governments of the provinces of Argentina.

Contents

The agency is one of the oldest ministries in the Argentine government, having existed continuously since the formation of the first Argentine executive in 1854, in the presidency of Justo José de Urquiza. The incumbent minsiter is Lisandro Catalán, who was appointed in September 2025. [2]

History

The Ministry of the Interior was one of the first five cabinet ministries formed by the first president of the Argentine Confederation, Justo José de Urquiza, [4] upon his ascension to the presidency on 5 March 1854. [5] The first interior minister was Benjamín Gorostiaga (es). [1]

When Argentina became a republic after the Confederation was dissolved, Guillermo Rawson was the first Minister of Interior appointed by then president Bartolomé Mitre. [6] [4]

The name of the ministry remained unchanged for over a century until the presidency of Juan Domingo Perón, when it was merged with the Justice portfolio under the administration of Ángel Borlenghi.

The military administration of Eduardo Lonardi restored the ministry its former name in 1955, and it was not until 2012 during the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that an additional portfolio, this time that of the transport ministry, was incorporated into the Interior portfolio. [7] The successive administration of Mauricio Macri added further responsibilities, merging the ministry with public works and housing. [8]

In 2019, President Alberto Fernández reorganized the cabinet ministries and separated the public works and housing responsibilities from the Interior Ministry, rendering back to its original name again. [9]

After President Javier Milei took office in 2023, the ministry was downgraded into a secretariat as part of his pledge to reduce public deficits and the size of the government. Milei reversed the decision in September 2025 amid efforts to build alliances with opposition governors following his party's defeat in the 2025 Buenos Aires provincial election. [10]

Attributions and structure

Article 17 of the current Law on Ministries, adopted in 2019, lays out the purported attributions and responsibilities of the Ministry of the Interior of Argentina. According to the law, it is within the Ministry's responsibilities to assist the President and the Chief of Cabinet on all matters pertaining to the internal governance and the exercise of principles and constitutional guarantees, safekeeping the republican, representative and federal government. [11]

Some particular issues that are within the ministry's jurisdiction include judging on when it is pertinent to declare a state of siege; dealing with proposals of constitutional reform and organizing constitutional conventions when it is necessary; and maintaining a state of co-operation between the governments of the provinces of Argentina and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, including inter-jurisdictional matters and relations, and coordinating policies that help and promote regional growth. [11]

Structure and dependencies

The Ministry of the Interior has a number of centralized and decentralized dependencies. The centralized dependencies, as in other government ministers, are known as secretariats (secretarías) and undersecretariats (subsecretarías); this is the current structure of the Ministry: [12]

Several decentralized agencies also report to the Ministry of the Interior, such as the National Directorate for Migration (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones; DNM), the National Persons Registry (Registro Nacional de las Personas, Renaper), and the General Archive of the Nation. [13] [14]

Headquarters

Old Central Argentine Railway building, current headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, as seen from Leandro N. Alem Avenue (c. 1900). Edificio Ferrocarril Central Argentino (Olds, ca. 1900).jpg
Old Central Argentine Railway building, current headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, as seen from Leandro N. Alem Avenue (c. 1900).

The Ministry of the Interior is headquartered at 25 de Mayo Avenue 101, in the San Nicolás barrio in Buenos Aires. [15] The building originally housed the headquarters of the Central Argentine Railway. [16]

List of ministers and secretaries

No.MinisterPartyTermPresident
Ministry of the Interior (1854–1954)
1 Benjamín Gorostiaga Unitarian Party 5 March 1854 – 11 October 1854 Justo José de Urquiza
2 Santiago Derqui Federalist Party 11 October 1854 – 12 February 1860
3 Luis José de la Peña Independent 12 February 1860 – 5 March 1860
4 Juan Gregorio Pujol Federalist Party 5 March 1860 – 22 November 1860 Santiago Derqui
5 Salustiano Zavalía Unitarian Party 22 November 1860 – 29 May 1861
6 Severo González Federalist Party 29 May 1861 – 5 November 1861
7 Guillermo Rawson Nationalist Party 12 October 1862 – 12 October 1868 Bartolomé Mitre
8 Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield Nationalist Party 12 October 1868 – 1 May 1872 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
9 Uladislao Frías Nationalist Party 1 May 1872 – 12 October 1874
10 Simón de Iriondo National Autonomist Party 12 October 1874 – 25 August 1877 Nicolás Avellaneda
11 Bernardo de Irigoyen National Autonomist Party 25 August 1877 – 6 May 1878
12 Saturnino Laspiur National Autonomist Party 6 May 1878 – 25 August 1878
13 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento National Autonomist Party 25 August 1878 – 9 October 1879
14 Benjamín Zorrilla National Autonomist Party 9 October 1879 – 12 October 1880
15 Antonio del Viso National Autonomist Party 12 October 1880 – 11 February 1882 Julio Argentino Roca
16 Bernardo de Irigoyen National Autonomist Party 11 February 1882 – 30 May 1885
17 Benjamín Paz Independent 30 May 1885 – 9 February 1886
18 Isaac Chavarría National Autonomist Party 9 February 1886 – 12 October 1886
19 Eduardo Wilde National Autonomist Party 12 October 1886 – 20 January 1889 Miguel Juárez Celman
20 Manuel Zorrilla National Autonomist Party 20 January 1889 – 28 February 1889
21 Wenceslao Pacheco National Autonomist Party 28 February 1889 – 27 August 1889
22 Norberto Quirno Costa National Autonomist Party 27 August 1889 – 14 April 1890
23 Salustiano Zavalía National Autonomist Party 14 April 1890 – 6 August 1890
24 Julio Argentino Roca National Autonomist Party 6 August 1890 – 1 May 1891 Carlos Pellegrini
25 José Vicente Zapata National Autonomist Party 1 May 1891 – 12 October 1892
26 Manuel Quintana National Autonomist Party 12 October 1892 – 13 December 1892 Luis Sáenz Peña
27 Tomás de Anchorena National Autonomist Party 13 December 1892 – 8 February 1893
28 Wenceslao Escalante National Autonomist Party 8 February 1893 – 14 June 1893
29 Miguel Cané National Autonomist Party 14 June 1893 – 5 July 1893
30 Lucio Vicente López National Autonomist Party 5 July 1893 – 12 August 1893
31 Manuel Quintana National Autonomist Party 12 August 1893 – 7 November 1894
32 Eduardo Costa National Autonomist Party 7 November 1894 – 23 January 1895
33 Benjamín Zorrilla National Autonomist Party 23 January 1895 – 20 July 1895 José Evaristo Uriburu
34 Norberto Quirno Costa National Autonomist Party 20 July 1895 – 12 October 1898
35 Felipe Yofre National Autonomist Party 12 October 1898 – 26 August 1901 Julio Argentino Roca
36 Joaquín V. González National Autonomist Party 9 September 1901 – 12 October 1904
37 Rafael Castillo National Autonomist Party 12 October 1904 – 12 March 1906 Manuel Quintana
38 Norberto Quirno Costa National Autonomist Party 14 March 1906 – 10 July 1906 José Figueroa Alcorta
39 Manuel Montes de Oca National Autonomist Party 11 July 1906 – 25 September 1906
40 Joaquín V. González National Autonomist Party 25 September 1906 – 21 November 1906
41 Manuel Montes de Oca National Autonomist Party 21 November 1906 – 27 September 1907
42 Marco Aurelio Avellaneda National Autonomist Party 27 September 1907 – 8 March 1910
43 José Gálvez National Autonomist Party 8 March 1910 – 23 July 1910
44 Carlos Rodríguez Larreta National Autonomist Party 23 July 1910 – 12 October 1910
45 Indalecio Gómez National Autonomist Party 12 October 1910 – 12 February 1914 Roque Sáenz Peña
46 Miguel S. Ortiz National Autonomist Party 16 February 1914 – 12 October 1916 Roque Sáenz Peña
Victorino de la Plaza
47 Ramón Gómez Radical Civic Union 12 October 1916 – 10 April 1922 Hipólito Yrigoyen
48 Francisco Beiró Radical Civic Union 10 April 1922 – 12 October 1922
49 José Nicolás Matienzo Radical Civic Union 12 October 1922 – 26 November 1923 Marcelo T. de Alvear
50 Vicente Gallo Radical Civic Union 12 December 1923 – 27 July 1925
51 José P. Tamborini Radical Civic Union 5 August 1925 – 12 October 1928
52 Elpidio González Radical Civic Union 12 October 1928 – 6 September 1930 Hipólito Yrigoyen
53 Matías Sánchez Sorondo National Democratic Party 6 September 1930 – 15 April 1931 José Félix Uriburu
54 Octavio Sergio Pico Radical Civic Union 16 April 1931 – 20 February 1932
55 Leopoldo Melo Radical Civic Union 20 February 1932 – 29 April 1936 Agustín Pedro Justo
56 Ramón S. Castillo National Democratic Party 29 April 1936 – 21 June 1937
57 Manuel Ramón Alvarado National Democratic Party 21 June 1937 – 20 February 1938
58 Diógenes Taboada Radical Civic Union 20 February 1938 – 2 September 1940 Roberto M. Ortiz
59 Miguel J. Culaciati Radical Civic Union 2 September 1940 – 4 June 1943 Roberto M. Ortiz
Ramón S. Castillo
60 Alberto Gilbert Independent (Military)4 June 1943 – 21 October 1943 Pedro Pablo Ramírez
61 Luis César Perlinger Independent (Military)21 October 1943 – 6 June 1944
Edelmiro Farrell
62 Alberto Tessaire Independent (Military)6 June 1944 – 4 August 1945
63 Juan Hortensio Quijano Radical Civic Union 4 August 1945 – 8 October 1945
64 Eduardo Ávalos Independent (Military)8 October 1945 – 17 October 1945
65 Bartolomé Descalzo Independent (Military)20 October 1945 – 2 November 1945
66 Felipe Urdapilleta Independent (Military)2 November 1945 – 4 June 1946
67 Ángel Borlenghi Peronist Party 4 June 1946 – 24 July 1954 Juan Domingo Perón
Ministry of the Interior and Justice (1954–1955)
67 Ángel Borlenghi Peronist Party 24 July 1954 – 29 June 1955 Juan Domingo Perón
68 Oscar Albrieu Peronist Party 29 June 1955 – 21 September 1955
69 Eduardo Busso Independent 21 September 1955 – 12 November 1955 Eduardo Lonardi
Ministry of the Interior (1955–2012)
70 Luis de Pablo Pardo Independent 12 November 1955 – 13 November 1955 Eduardo Lonardi
71 Eduardo Busso Independent 13 November 1955 – 27 April 1956 Pedro Eugenio Aramburu
72 Laureano Landaburu Independent 27 April 1956 – 25 January 1957
73 Carlos Alconada Aramburu Radical Civic Union 25 January 1957 – 24 March 1958
74 Ángel H. Cabral Radical Civic Union 24 March 1958 – 1 May 1958
75 Alfredo Roque Vítolo Radical Civic Union 1 May 1958 – 19 March 1962 Arturo Frondizi
76 Hugo Vaca Narvaja Radical Civic Union 19 March 1962 – 29 March 1962
77 Rodolfo Martínez Christian Democratic Party 29 March 1962 – 18 April 1962 José María Guido
78 Jorge Walter Perkins Radical Civic Union 30 April 1962 – 26 June 1962
79 Carlos Adrogué Radical Civic Union 26 June 1962 – 23 September 1962
80 Rodolfo Martínez Christian Democratic Party 23 September 1962 – 9 April 1963
81 Enrique Rauch Independent (Military)9 April 1963 – 13 May 1963
82 Osiris Villegas Independent (Military)13 May 1963 – 12 October 1963
83 Juan Palmero Radical Civic Union 12 October 1963 – 28 June 1966 Arturo Illia
84 Enrique Martínez Paz Córdoba Democratic Party 28 June 1966 – 29 December 1966 Juan Carlos Onganía
85 Guillermo Borda Independent 2 January 1967 – 8 June 1969
86 Francisco A. Imaz Independent (Military)10 June 1969 – 8 June 1970
87 Eduardo Mac Loughlin Independent (Military)18 June 1870 – 13 October 1970 Roberto Levingston
88 Arturo Cordón Aguirre Independent (Military)13 October 1970 – 23 March 1971
89 Arturo Mor Roig Radical Civic Union 26 March 1971 – 25 May 1973 Alejandro Lanusse
90 Esteban Righi Justicialist Party 25 May 1973 – 13 July 1973 Héctor Cámpora
91 Benito Llambí Justicialist Party 13 July 1973 – 13 August 1974 Juan Domingo Perón
Raúl Lastiri
Isabel Perón
92 Alberto Rocamora Justicialist Party 14 August 1974 – 11 July 1975 Isabel Perón
93 Antonio J. Benítez Justicialist Party 11 July 1975 – 11 August 1975
94 Vicente Damasco Justicialist Party 11 August 1975 – 16 September 1975
95 Ángel F. Robledo Justicialist Party 16 September 1975 – 15 January 1976
96 Roberto Antonio Ares Justicialist Party 15 January 1976 – 24 March 1976
97 Albano Harguindeguy Independent (Military)24 March 1976 – 29 March 1981 Jorge Rafael Videla
98 Horacio Tomás Liendo Independent (Military)29 March 1981 – 12 December 1981 Roberto Viola
99 Alfredo Oscar Saint Jean Independent (Military)12 December 1981 – 1 July 1982 Leopoldo Galtieri
100 Llamil Reston Independent (Military)2 July 1982 – 10 December 1983 Reynaldo Bignone
101 Antonio Tróccoli Radical Civic Union 10 December 1983 – 15 September 1987 Raúl Alfonsín
102 Enrique Nosiglia Radical Civic Union 15 September 1987 – 26 May 1989
103 Juan Carlos Pugliese Radical Civic Union 26 May 1989 – 8 July 1989
104 Eduardo Bauzá Justicialist Party 8 July 1989 – 15 December 1990 Carlos Menem
105 Julio Mera Figueroa Justicialist Party 15 December 1990 – 12 August 1991
106 José Luis Manzano Justicialist Party 12 August 1991 – 4 December 1992
107 Gustavo Béliz Justicialist Party 4 December 1992 – 23 August 1993
108 Carlos Ruckauf Justicialist Party 23 August 1993 – 9 January 1995
109 Carlos Corach Justicialist Party 9 January 1995 – 10 December 1999
110 Federico Storani Radical Civic Union 10 December 1999 – 20 March 2001 Fernando de la Rúa
111 Ramón Mestre Radical Civic Union 20 March 2001 – 20 December 2001
112 Rodolfo Gabrielli Justicialist Party 23 December 2001 – 3 May 2002 Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
Eduardo Duhalde
113 Jorge Matzkin Justicialist Party 3 May 2002 – 25 May 2003 Eduardo Duhalde
114 Aníbal Fernández Justicialist Party 25 May 2003 – 10 December 2007 Néstor Kirchner
115 Florencio Randazzo Justicialist Party 10 December 2007 – 6 June 2012 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Ministry of the Interior and Transport (2012–2015)
115 Florencio Randazzo Justicialist Party 6 June 2012 – 10 December 2015 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Ministry of the Interior, Public Works and Housing (2012–2015)
116 Rogelio Frigerio MID 10 December 2015 – 10 December 2019 Mauricio Macri
Ministry of the Interior (2019–2024)
117 Eduardo de Pedro Justicialist Party 10 December 2019 – 10 December 2023 Alberto Fernández
118 Guillermo Francos Independent 10 December 2023 – 27 May 2024 Javier Milei
Secretary of the Interior (2024–2025)
119 Lisandro Catalán Independent 27 May 2024 – 15 September 2025 Javier Milei
Ministry of the Interior (2025–Present)
119 Lisandro Catalán Independent 15 September 2025 – Present Javier Milei

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Lonigro, Félix (1 May 2019). "Debates acalorados, noches de baile en Santa Fe y un prócer olvidado: cómo nació la Constitución Nacional". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 El Presidente le tomó juramento al nuevo ministro del Interior, Lisandro Catalán by argentina.gob.ar, September 15th 2025
  3. ↑ "¿Qué hace el Presupuesto por vos?". Ministerio de Hacienda (in Spanish). 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 Argentina se quedó sin Ministerio del Interior on Análisis Digital, 28 May 2024
  5. ↑ "JUSTO JOSÉ DE URQUIZA (1854 – 1860)". casarosada.gob.ar (in Spanish). 9 December 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. ↑ Por primera vez en la historia, Argentina no tendrá ministerio del Interior on El Tribuno, 28 May 2024
  7. ↑ "El Gobierno creó por decreto el ministerio de Interior y Transporte". Perfil (in Spanish). 6 June 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Frigerio presentó el gabinete del ministerio del Interior, Obras Públicas y Vivienda". Télam (in Spanish). 23 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Quién es Wado de Pedro, el dirigente de La Cámpora que será ministro del Interior". TN (in Spanish). 6 December 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Milei reopens Argentina's interior ministry to build alliances with opposition after election defeat". AP News. September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Decreto 7/2019". Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina (in Spanish). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "BOLETIN OFICIAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - ADMINISTRACIÓN PÚBLICA NACIONAL - Decreto 33/2024". www.boletinoficial.gob.ar. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "La comunidad senegalesa reclama la inclusión en medidas de ayuda económica". Notas Periodismo Popular (in Spanish). 21 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Las Oficina móvil del RENAPER en los barrios de la ciudad". Tiempo Sur (in Spanish). 22 September 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Ministerio Del Interior". Guía Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "EDIFICIOS SEDE DEL MINISTERIO DE INTERIOR, OBRAS PÚBLICAS Y VIVIENDA". Ministerio del Interior, Obras Públicas y Vivienda (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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