From south american citizenship to humanitarianism: The turn in ecuadorian immigration policy and diplomacy

Abstract

The main purpose of the article is to examine the changes in migration policy and diplomacy in Ecuador paying attention to the measures taken since the increase on the arrivals of Venezuelan migrants. With the government of President Lenín Moreno, the focus shifted from rights to security under the figure of the humanitarian government, where migrants are seen as both victims and threats. Methodologically, an analysis is made of the main decrees issued since 2018 and is supported by quantitative sources on flows and visas granted until August 2020. The text shows how the government uses migratory diplomacy as a central element of its foreign policy both to get closer to Washington’s agenda, to move away from the Bolivarian axis —mainly from the Venezuelan government— and to obtain funds from international cooperation to face the increase of migrants.