Posted on 04/24/2012 10:57:43 PM PDT by PieterCasparzen
Terrorism, as the United States has learned at a high cost in recent years, comes in many forms and from unexpected sources. The government of Ecuador has once again crossed the line between irresponsible policies and ideologically driven actions that have created a serious security problem not only for its citizens but also for the entire Western Hemisphere.
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In June of 2008, the Ecuadorian government opened its borders to foreigners and ended visa requirements to enter its territory. This opened the floodgates to nationals from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (e.g., Afghanistan, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Nigeria, Cuba, Pakistan, and Somalia). For example, according to statistics of its own National Immigration Office, in 2006 (before the policy change) there were 92 entries of Pakistani citizens, by 2008 were already 178 and in 2010, 518. This is an increase of 550 percent in 4 years. More significantly, just between 2008 and 2010 an estimated 60,000 Cubans entered Ecuador, according to intelligence sources.
Records shows that large numbers of these immigrants enter to obtain Ecuadorian nationality by naturalization and thus be able to travel freely throughout Latin America and eventually to the United States without arousing suspicion because of their original nationalities. The routes by which they enter the Americas generally include a first stop in Cuba or Venezuela, countries with highly subjective immigration controls. Two routes that are used repeatedly are Pakistan/Afghanistan-Iran-Venezuela-Ecuador, and Somalia-Dubai-Russia-Cuba-Ecuador.
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(Excerpt) Read more at shadow.foreignpolicy.com ...
Good post.
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New Gateway to the United States? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Ecuador has instantly become the new, free gateway to the United States for foreigners from Asia and Africa.
1. Obviously, all those people from Asia and Africa are NOT visiting Ecuador because they want to see the beauty and splendor of Ecuador's countryside.
2. If those travelers from Asia and Africa move on and head to the United States and don't try to stay permanently in Ecuador, the government of Ecuador does not care what happens to them.
3. The Ecuadoran officials probably say to each other that what the travelers do to try to enter the United States illegally is now a United States problem and not an Ecuador problem.
4. Countries along the route between Ecuador and the United States: These countries don't care what the travelers do as long as they don't stay in those countries.
5. If those travelers prove that they are only passing through so that they can try to enter the United States illegally, those countries don't care. Again, that is a United States problem.
6. Ecuador: If Ecuador does not cooperate with the United States and stop allowing anyone to enter the country without any legal papers like passports or visas, then the United States should cut off all aid to Ecuador.
7. We just can't have a country near our southern border becoming a wide open, uncontrolled, and free gateway for illegal immigrants entering the United States from Asia and Africa.
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