JOINT STATEMENT
United States and Ecuador Convene
Third Bilateral Consular and Migration Dialogue
December 11, 2020
The United States and Ecuador convened the third Bilateral Consular and Migration Dialogue on December 11, 2020, in accordance with the June 2018 commitment between Ecuador’s President Lenín Moreno and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to expand bilateral dialogue on consular and migration issues. U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Fitzpatrick led the U.S. delegation of senior officials from the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Social Security Administration. Vice Minister of Human Mobility Carlos Alberto Velástegui led the Ecuadorian delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Ministry of Government, Secretariat of Human Rights, and the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security. Due to public health considerations, officials met virtually from Washington, D.C. and Quito.
The bilateral dialogue focused on four general themes: assistance to citizens, immigration and visa issues, deportations and border security, and information exchange. Specific topics raised included consular assistance to U.S. and Ecuadorian citizens, intercountry adoption procedures, U.S. and Ecuador visa policies, migration flows, and social security among others.
Both delegations highlighted the strong bilateral cooperation between the United States and Ecuador that aims to facilitate a safe, orderly and regular migration between both countries. The delegations committed to further strengthening the bilateral consular and migration relationship through future bilateral dialogues and ongoing collaboration and coordination.
