The Ecuadorian government shows solidarity with Venezuelan migrants

Posted On 17 Aug 2018

Ecuadornews:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specified that the requirement to present a passport for entry into Ecuador is for “Venezuelan” citizens.

The measure, which will apply from Saturday, August 18, is adopted to guarantee the safety of these people due to the ascendant unusual migratory flow, after the declaration of emergency in three Ecuadorian provinces

Currently, the identity cards they carry when entering the Ecuadorian territory do not have the necessary assurances for identification in the type of readers established by the Ecuadorian migratory system, so that it is not possible to validate its authenticity, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement

“Some show damage or deterioration, others lack bar codes or chips, so they are considered highly falsifiable documents.”

The statement points out that for the Ecuadorian Government it is a priority to comply with the and principles enshrined in the Constitution and the Human Mobility Law, which guarantee the integrity of Venezuelan citizens, against risky migration and prevent related crimes, such as human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the measure is legal and that it is based on the sovereign powers of the Ecuadorian State. Likewise, the Ministry of the Interior presented a technical report in which it is specified that the Venezuelan identity cards and birth certificates do not offer guarantees of validation, due to the fact that cases of human trafficking and migrant trafficking have been detected.

On Thursday, August 16, the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, met with 15 Venezuelan migrants at the Carondelet Palace, who repeatedly detailed the situation in their country and requested assistance from the national authorities. For example, they urged the government to help them facilitate the process to regularize the documents, especially to grant a work visa, which will allow them to work normally here.

“We do not want to take jobs away from Ecuadorians, we want equality,” said María Fernanda Higuera, 19, who arrived in the country three months ago. In addition, the attendees asked for forgiveness for the performance of other migrants who have not behaved properly.

In this regard, Moreno said that the situation in Ecuador is difficult, with problems such as lack of employment. Despite the limitations, Ecuador is supporting Venezuelans, for example, through the provision of aid with food, health, among others.

He said that because of the internal situation of that country, Ecuador has claimed. “Venezuela is a rich country, with the largest oil reserves. If things have not been done well, it will be for some reason. It will be due to inefficiency, lack of feeling, lack of solidarity, “he emphasized.

He acknowledged to the public that they will find xenophobic reactions. However, he said that no person should be discriminated against because of their migrant status. The Government reported that 250,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador.

[ATENCIÓN] #DefensoríaDelPueblo conmina a @MinInteriorEc y @CancilleriaEc a DESISTIR de la medida de exigir pasaporte como único requisito para ingresar al #Ecuador y exhorta a cumplir con la Constitución, LOMH e instrumentos internacionales de #DDHH @Presidencia_Ec @Lenin pic.twitter.com/MQTITrwlwq
— DefensoríadelPueblo (@DEFENSORIAEC) 16 de agosto de 2018

Previously, the Minister of the Interior, Mauro Toscanini, had indicated that the passport requirement was for “all persons entering Ecuador to present their passports.” Hence, the Ombudsman’s Office reacted in a statement, in which it ordered the Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Ministry “to desist from the measure”. The Ombudsman said that the decision to demand a passport to enter the country goes against Article 84 of the Organic Law of Human Mobility. (I)

Ley Orgánica de Movilidad Humana Art. 84 sobre el Ingreso y salida del territorio nacional. @MinInteriorEc @CancilleriaEc @Presidencia_Ec @Lenin pic.twitter.com/Os0m103e21
— DefensoríadelPueblo (@DEFENSORIAEC) 16 de agosto de 2018