Ecuador's deportees face rising organized crime challenges

Many Ecuadorians who were deported from the United States are returning to a dangerous situation at home. These individuals fled violence and crime, hoping for a better life but found themselves caught in a cycle of hardship. Elena and Ramiro are among those deported. After facing extortion threats in Guayaquil, they decided to leave Ecuador. Their food stall was thriving until gang members demanded $3,000 a month, an amount they could not afford. Fearing for their safety, they attempted to reach the U.S. but were caught and deported. Since January, over 1,900 Ecuadorians have been sent back, adding to a series of deportations that have affected 43,000 people in recent years. Flights carrying deportees are common, happening two or three times each week. Upon returning, many deportees share stories of trauma and hope. Jennifer, another deportee, endured a harrowing journey, becoming a hostage of a gang in Mexico. She arrived back in Ecuador with little money and deep concern for her sick child. The situation in Ecuador has worsened. Violence and crime are rampant, and basic living conditions have not improved. Many deportees feel abandoned and scared as they reintegrate into a society plagued by extortion and danger. Elena's hope of finding safety and opportunity in the U.S. was dashed. Now back in a country consumed by violence, she and others like her contemplate leaving again in search of a better future. The cycle of migration continues as they seek safety far from home.