As violence escalates in Ecuador, families are forced to abandon their lives in search of asylum in the U.S. Despite fleeing terror, many encounter daunting legal challenges under current immigration policies.
From Disneyland Dreams to Survival: Ecuadorians Seek Asylum in the U.S.
From Disneyland Dreams to Survival: Ecuadorians Seek Asylum in the U.S.
Faced with cartel violence, many Ecuadorians like Gabriela flee to the U.S. seeking refuge, but legal barriers complicate their quest for safety.
Gabriela had envisioned a family vacation to Disneyland as a joyful escapade, but it transformed into a harrowing escape from escalating cartel violence in Ecuador. Known by a pseudonym for safety, Gabriela once lived a normal life in Guayaquil, complete with a stable job at a television station, a mortgage, and a private school for her daughter. However, the ominous rise of violence in her country shattered that peace when she received a chilling call demanding ransom, followed by a personal tragedy: her daughter’s grandfather was kidnapped and later murdered, leaving only a grotesque reminder of the horrors enacted by crime syndicates.
Fearing for their safety, Gabriela's partner encouraged her to take their daughter on the pre-planned trip to Florida, hoping they could seek asylum there rather than face the horrifying violence at home. Now, Gabriela finds herself among the thousands of Latin Americans who are embroiled in pending asylum claims in the U.S. Unfortunately, legal experts note that seeking refuge from cartels poses significant challenges, especially as cartel violence doesn't neatly correspond to legal definitions of asylum eligibility.
Historically, U.S. asylum law outlines five specific grounds for receiving protection, stemming from the Refugee Convention developed post-World War II. Cartel violence, however, does not align clearly with these criteria, complicating the pursuit for many like Gabriela. In prior years, under the Trump administration, there were stringent interpretations that made it harder to claim asylum based on gang-related concerns, preferring to categorize such conflicts as mere criminal acts rather than systemic issues warranting asylum.
Despite the Biden administration’s attempts to revise interpretations, existing laws still leave many applicants vulnerable. Gabriela shares the sentiment that cartel members are akin to terrorists, urging the U.S. government to recognize victims of their extortion and violence appropriately. Mario Russell, director of the Center for Migration Studies, asserts that an update in the definitions surrounding asylum claims is overdue as many victims presently resort to framing their cases as political asylum, attributing the violence to the broader political power the cartels wield in their home countries.
As Gabriela awaits her asylum interview, she navigates life with a work permit, performing long hours of labor, anxious and fearful for her family’s safety. The continuing specter of potential deportation looms large, leading many asylum applicants, including fellow migrants Maria and Luis, to live under constant stress. Moreover, the U.S. immigration landscape presents daunting barriers, with a backlog of four million asylum cases and many facing extended waits for hearings, leading to mounting fear and uncertainty.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services maintains that asylum protections are limited and emphasizes that pending claims do not provide immunity from deportation. Public sentiment regarding immigration policies remains divided, with many Americans advocating for the rights of law-abiding immigrants fleeing violence and horror in their home countries, longing for a peaceful life free from terror. With their fate resting in the hands of a stringent immigration system, Gabriela, Maria, and Luis continue their fight for survival and safety, echoing the universal hope for freedom and peace.
