Migration experts say Ecuador is registering waves of migration to the United States for reasons similar to those that occurred in the late 1990s | Ecuador | News

In forums and social media groups, Ecuadorians are looking for information on how to relocate to the United States. On these sites they learn about the services they intended to process the Mexican visa or the ways to get to the land known as the ‘American Dream’. “You cannot enter Mexican territory without a visa,” reads a publication on the change in the country’s immigration policy for Ecuadorian citizens.

In 2017, 39,956 people traveled to Mexico, according to the Ecuadorian government. From January to July 2021, 88,696 Ecuadorians left the country. Only 34,331 returned during that period.

Another Facebook post reads: “We have a cruise and refugee delivery route from Tijuana to the United States, we can help you if you are still in your country and want to go to Mexico, and send us a message (sic.)”. In the same post, a man asks if they are getting minors who do not have a companion to take to the United States.

History marked by a difficult economy

William Murillo, Managing Director 1800MIGRANTE.COM, A legal service organization, indicates that this new wave of migration has variables similar to those that occurred in the late 1990s.

“The impact of the economic downturn in ’98 allowed them to move to Spain and the United States. We had an exodus of more than two million Ecuadorians. Now it’s not so much, (but) we’ll see more, but in these two years we have not reached 200,000 Ecuadorians,” says Murillo. In 1999, a so-called bank holiday took place, which often separated families living separately.

The migration expert explains that the event came into effect in 2018 when Mexico decided to withdraw the visa requirement for Ecuadorians and that it was exacerbated by the difficult economic situation that was dragging the country down due to the oil fall and other factors. Decision making. The South American country was affected by the effects of Govt-19, and by 2020, the number of travelers had not decreased to a level previously recorded prior to the year of entry into that country.

“There are issues like political instability, corruption, the economy. All of these issues form a kind of foundation for relocating. For example, if we talk about the political issue, we see national and sectarian leaders breaking the law, nothing happens to them. This is how you start a business, they You will be robbed and nothing will happen to the thief, so that kind of insecurity, at least in rural areas, is not mentioned in the cities, where crime is more prevalent.

Murillo hopes the visa ban will reduce the flow of immigrants. However, he fears that travelers will choose the more dangerous alternatives.

The Mexican press has documented the dangerous results of Ecuadorians who have died in the desert on dozens of occasions or have been victims of criminal organizations.

Others, on the other hand, have a different conclusion. In mid-July, the 1800MIGRANTE.COM organization announced that 54,543 Ecuadorians had been detained or deported across the U.S. border this year. That figure represents a 400% increase compared to 2020.

They found the body of an Ecuadorian immigrant missing in Mexico

Departure to Mexico after the visa was lifted exceeded the ban of 39,000 to 100,000 per year

what can be done?

Endarto Baldin, co-founder of Fondacion del Micrande, believes current officials need to consider different strategies than previous governments ’plans to serve people in parts of the country with more migration events.

Mexico and Ecuador agree to resume trade talks and hold a meeting to discuss the cancellation of visas

“We need to design a strategy that is not available in other years, which includes declaring areas of immigration as Special Economic Development Zones. The state must pay special attention to the resources and policies that allow it to create development conditions,” explains the activist campaign for the protection of immigrant rights, which was not expected by previous governments. Considers

Associations, NGOs and Immigrant Rights Efforts, a Document It outlines the problem of Ecuadorian immigration, highlighting the Baltines. The speech also includes proposals for reform of the Humanitarian Movement (LOMH) Organic Law approved by the government of Raphael Korea.

For example, the document specifies the removal period established for requesting access to benefits.

“Art. 41 of the LOMH Reform Act states that” Ecuadorian persons returning can claim benefits for up to thirty-six months after returning to the national territory. “This provision severely affects the rights of returnees. Not accessible because there is nothing.

“We have prepared the document for submission to the new government and the legislature,” Baldin said. (I)