Reporting for my first cross-cultural story (covering the Ecuadorean community) has made me learn about quite a few things “I thought I knew about.” My story will be about Ecuadorean migrants who migrate to the U.S. by land (or sea) all the way through Central America and Mexico.

First, I think I underestimated the perils migrants go through when trying to reach the U.S. There is a huge network (call it mafia also; or “culture of migration” as Catalina Nieto from Witness for Peace put it in a telephone interview recently). Second, I was surprised to learn that (at least the Ecuadorean migrants I’ve talked to) many know what they will be exposed to –be it, they know before departing on the journey that it could be deadly and/or it will be full of adversities.

Although there are no numbers or statistics on the number of Ecuadorean migrants that cross to the U.S. illegally and therefore, go on these trips, I found these numbers and/or facts:
- According to the SENAMI (the Ecuadorean agency about migration issues) there have been 223 Ecuadoreans reported missing in their trips to the U.S. in 2009 and 2010.

- Criminal gangs received up to $25 million as ransom from relatives of migrants kidnapped.

- 67% of the kidnapped are from Honduras, 18% from Salvador and 13% Guatemala

- Most of the kidnappings in MX take place in the states of Veracruz (2.944) and Tabasco (2.378), both at the south of MX

- Since 2007 illegal migrants have been able to apply for a humanitarian visa in mexico to enable them to report crimes committed against them, and see the prosecution through.Yet most crimes against migrants go unreported

- As border security has become tighter, the price of being smuggled has risen from perhaps $2,000 per person (the UNODC's estimate) to as much as $10,000, according to STRATFOR, a global intelligence company based in Texas.

- A 2010 report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that human smuggling is a $6.6-billion industry in Mexico, and that 90% of unauthorised immigrants crossing into the United States through Mexico hired a smuggler at some point along the journey

- 20,000 migrants are kidnapped for ransom in Mexico every year, according to the country's National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH). Victims are made to give the phone numbers of relatives, who must pay upwards of $3,000 or more to get them released

- Last year (2009), according to the National Foundation for American Policy, 417 would-be migrants died while coming to the United States, felled by exposure, dehydration, heatstroke and drowning. The record was set in 2005, with 492 migrant deaths.

- Migrants run a gantlet of thieves, rapists, gangs and corrupt policemen in Mexico on the way to the United States. Mexican human rights groups say that nearly 20,000 migrants were kidnapped last year, usually for ransom, although the government questions that number.

- Human-rights groups estimate that as many as six out of ten of the women and girls making their way to the United States through Mexico are subjected to sexual violence on the way.

-The massacre on Aug. 23 in Reinosa, Mexico, of 72 South and Central America migrants by Los Zetas drug gang left a still undetermined number of victims who are Ecuadoreans. One of the 3 survivors is Ecuadorean as well. This massacre has been described by several top down sources in different media as “the tip of the iceberg” (meaning there is infinite abuse of migrants on their way north)

I also found these articles especially useful:

(about a trip of ecuadoreans to the US, 2004 article, quite comprehensive)


About the train in Mexico many migrants take (pretty deadly, called the ‘train of hell’)

Mexico, hell for migrants

And this reports:
“Humanitarian crisis- migrant deaths at the US-Mexico border” by Maria Jiménez, Oct. 1, 2009.

DR CAFTA: effects and alternatives

Witness for Peace –“Nafta at 15”

“Militarization and impunity at the border” 2006, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

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I talked to Jeff Passel at Pew Hispanic Center who recommended me the work of several people and talk to some as well (they didn’t get back to me).
I interviewed the national representative of Witness for Peace, a grassroots organization that does a lot of work in the border US-Mexico and reports a lot about these issues (also works on exposing the causes of people migrating to the U.S.)

Casa Ecuatoriana de Nueva York didn’t have any information on numbers of ecuadoreans that come to the US illegally or numbers of ecuadoreans that come in general (many of them do it smuggled across borders).

From the testimonies of the four Ecuadoreans I interviewed for this story (here in NY) I learn that this is a super taboo topic. It took me a lot of effort to convince most of them to trust me and tell me their experiences. My interpretation is that they realize by telling the story they’re acknowledging having gone through several layers of illegal acts, and they also fear deportation being here in the U.S. still undocumented.

To sum up, and as antecedents to the story, some of the lessons learned are: this is a veryyy taboo topic, its at the crossings of some of the most horrific crimes and abuses imaginable (human smuggling, extorsion, sexual abuse, murder, organized crime, networks of exploitation…) and they really don’t have it easier when they get to the US. None of the ones Ive talked to have accomplished their “American dream” and they get exploited and abused here in the U.S. too.
Amnesty International calls this trip across borders crossing Central America and mexico to reach the US one of the most dangerous migration crossings in the world.

Journal refugees – Ecuador

11/8/10

According to UNHCR, Ecuador has the largest population of refugees in Latin America. It’s specially striking considering that it is one of the smallest countries in the region. It is home, UNHCR’s global needs assessment says, for 20,000 legally registered refugees (mostly from Colombia) and 37,000 asylum seekers. UNHCR data point that although those numbers have not gone up much since the last count a decade ago (in 2000), it is not because the refugee population has not increased, but rather, because of under-registration and lack of documentation of refugees in the country. The UNHCR also estimates that between 130,000 and 140,000 people may be “in need of international protection.”

Most refugees present in Ecuador come from Colombia (97 percent), from Colombian regions of Nariño, Putumayo and Amazonas (some of the most affected by the armed conflict in Colombia.) The refugee population in Ecuador is mainly composed of Colombians who fled the armed conflict in their country during the last decade. The border between Ecuador and Colombia is nowhere near calm, and there are repeated security incidents that UNHCR point have a very strong impact on refugees and IDPs both in Ecuador and Colombia.

“This includes some 135,000 Colombians in need of international protection, 72,000 of whom have never been registered. Furthermore, there is a backlog of approximately 37,000 cases for refugee status determination (RSD).”

According to UNHCR’s statistical snapshot (info updated on January 2010), there are 116,557 refugees and 50,632 asylum seekers (no IDPs) residing in Ecuador, making a total population of concern of 167,189. The refugee population originating from Ecuador is composed of much smaller numbers: 1,027 refugees and 281 asylum seekers (no IDPs), for a total of 1,208 people affected.

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There’s a big inflow of Colombian refugees towards Ecuador through the border both countries share (Ecuador’s northern border.) In the Esmeraldas province alone (northern Ecuador), more than 11,000 refugees were between March and June of 2009, according to UNHCR. This is mainly due to Colombia’s internal and ever lasting conflict with the FARC, Colombia’s guerrilla group.

"The province is right on the border with Colombia and is home to many Colombians fleeing conflict in their homeland," said Luis Varese, UNHCR deputy representative in Ecuador. "The security situation is tense and the impact of the Colombian conflict is strongly felt. The delivery of a visa by the Ecuadorian government reinforces the state presence in the area, which contributes to protecting refugees."

Ecuador’s government has been apparently dealing well with the effects a refugee crisis could have in the order of the country. It has tried to establish a comprehensive approach, and adopted a new asylum policy last year (March 2009). Through this, a massive campaign of registration and documentation and of refugees started, mainly to locate and identify those with special needs of international protection. UNHCR says until then they remained “invisible.”

Ecuador government’s program of registration of refugees has been internationally acclaimed and has come within the framework of legislative changes in Ecuador since a new Constitution was instituted in 2008 under Correa’s government. The new legislation, which touched a wide array of areas, also touched on asylum policy, etc. UNHCR assisted Ecuador to amend their Refugee Decree.

Also, a new field location of Correa’s government Refugee Directorate in the northern border has been contributing to a more effective management. They also strengthened the central office in Quito, which is expected to deal and already deals with all the backlog of asylum claims.

But not all is good news. Lack of documentation and registration of refugees is still a major challenge because, the UNHCR says, “it limits access to government’s services and self-reliance opportunities.” The main problem with lack of documentation is that many people, who stay in remote areas of the country, are afraid of coming out because of security reasons.

From the UNHCR:
The indigenous and Afro-Colombians, as well as single women and girls, are among the most vulnerable, making them particularly prone to exploitation and abuse.Many refugees and Ecuadorians in refugee-hosting communities cannot access essential services because of their high cost or limited availability in remote areas. Inadequate shelter is another problem because existing shelter programmes can only meet the short-term needs of the most vulnerable people. Poor nutrition among refugees is another challenge, as well as inadequate care for older people, those with disabilities and other groups with specific needs.Recognized refugees are allowed to work in the formal sector but there are few job opportunities, particularly in rural areas. The situation is worse for asylum-seekers and unregistered individuals as they are banned from formal employment and therefore compelled to work in the informal sector.

The UNHCR identifies the main areas to work onand things to achieve as:

  • All refugees are provided with proper identity documents, certifying their legal status and entitling them to fundamental rights.
  • Some 20,000 people are registered in the northern provinces of Carchi and Imbabura.
  • The four field offices of the Government's Refugee Directorate assume responsibilities in registration, the processing of asylum claims and documentation. Processing times are reduced to meet the three-month period determined by law.
  • Approximately 1,000 people are referred for resettlement and 500 are assisted to depart for third countries.
  • All people in need of international protection have access to health care provided by the State and civil society organizations.
  • Some 60 per cent of registered school-aged children in need of international protection are enrolled.
  • Around 30 per cent of communities at the northern border have improved access to water and sanitation.
  • All identified victims of gender-based violence receive support.
  • Approximately 2,000 people benefit from micro-credit in refugee-hosting provinces.
  • All asylum-seekers and refugees with specific needs receive humanitarian assistance.
  • All refugees and asylum-seekers are aware of their right to avail themselves of basic services and asylum procedures.

There is also according to several sources including news reports and UNHCR evaluations discrimination against refugees.

This is an interesting report about living conditions and reality of Colombian refugees in Ecuador.
These are some pieces of information from news articles/report that show a bit more of the complexities of the refugees situation in Ecuador:

“Colombia refugees still can't flee gangs;
Drug, arms war grows in Ecuador” (from the Washington Times)
“Officials estimate that 3,000 people belong to 20 to 30 "franchised" trafficking groups that were founded in Colombia but now are operating in Ecuador with names such as New Generation, Blue Eagles and the Machos.” (from Washington Times)

(…) The Ecuadorean army has built up its presence here in the past two years since the Colombian army conducted a cross-border military raid on a guerrilla camp in Ecuador.

Now there is talk of abuses at the hands of Ecuadorean soldiers.

The U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Philip Alston, has issued a report citing abuses by Ecuadorean soldiers and saying the military is ill-equipped to deal with the complexities of the border region.

This is a great article the Christian Science Monitor did in 2008 about the Ecuadorean refugee build-up:

“But registration is just an initial step in the process of providing better living conditions for refugees. The northern province of Sucumbíos, of which Lago Agrio is the capital, faces the largest influx of refugees. A jungle area separated from Colombia by two rivers, the area also presents many logistical and security challenges for humanitarian work. Border communities here are difficult to access and often lack basic infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, and health facilities.”

Catholic Relief Services article:

BBC this year, about campaigns to help refugees register:

Ecuador has the highest number of refugees in Latin America - a consequence of the ongoing conflict in Colombia between guerrillas, paramilitary squads and the state.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Colombia has one of the world's largest internally displaced populations, estimated at more than three million.

Another 500,000 to 750,000 have fled to other countries, according to the Refugee Council USA, a US-based coalition of NGOs.

Ecuador is a preferred destination both for its geographical proximity to the troubled southern Colombian regions of Putumayo and Narino and for the relatively easy migration process.

An estimated 135,000 people have crossed into Ecuador, the UNHCR says.

It even attracted celebrity newsy types:

Economist, 2006: “The Colombians are coming: Ecuador”
I think it’s interesting how it shows that Colombian refugees are adding a lot to Ecuadorean communities, and in some patches of land, received not so badly:

Santo Domingo de los Colorados (now dubbed "de los Colombianos"), which has quickly turned from a small market town into Ecuador's third-largest city. Colombians are respected for their entrepreneurial and sales skills. Their bakeries display garishly coloured cakes in their windows, in contrast to dowdy locally-owned rivals.

Ecuador has been a "model country" towards refugees, but its tolerance could wear thin, worries Judy Cheng-Hopkins, a UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees. In 2004, the government began requiring Colombians to prove they lacked a criminal record before being allowed in. "These refugees are poor people who came over to a poor country to compete for resources with other poor people," says Fredy Rivera of the Latin American Faculty of Social Science in Quito. But he adds that resentment has sometimes been fanned by local politicians and the media.

The Colombian invasion has brought much benefit to Ecuador's legal economy. But it may also have boosted the country's role in the drug trade. Ecuador has never been the site of significant coca production. But this month the army said it had found and destroyed four hectares (ten acres) of coca near the border. Days earlier, six tonnes of cocaine were found on a fishing boat 480km (300 miles) off the Galapagos Islands. It is becoming harder for Ecuador's politicians to claim that drugs are a purely Colombian problem.

An amazing photo essay about Colombian refugees in Ecuador:

Ecuadorean community
Journal 6

After a semester covering the Ecuadorean community in the U.S. and researching the Ecuadorean community both in the U.S. and Spain (the two main destinations for Ecuador’s migrants) I have learned a good deal. From the beginning of the ‘journey’ I learned they are in a sense a very special immigrant community because their government has kept in the last few years a very outward-looking focus, conscious of the large migration patterns.

Ecuador’s government has a ministry of immigrant affairs (SENAMI) that has representatives in different continents. Ecuadoreans abroad not only can vote, but also vote for their own representatives in their national Congress. Generally speaking, immigrants in Ecuador are heard, taken care of through national programs and partnerships with governments abroad (i.e. in Spain they have big advertising campaigns to stop racism and raise awareness about migrants honest motivations to migrate) and economically encouraged to return to Ecuador once they’ve earned a bit abroad. Currently, at least 14 percent of Ecuadoreans receive remittances from abroad.