Issues of Migrants.

 It is hard to know exactly how to catagorize this post.  I guess it might be helpful to explain first why I am writing it.  Brian and I are classified as migrants, and if anyone is interested (which I doubt) I could explain the legal process that goes into getting temporary visas to live here, and generally what you might need to get a permanent one - although the criteria for these changes frequently.  But I'm not going to do that, unless anyone is truly interested.  The short answer is that it takes a while, but if you have funds and a clean background check, the Ecuadorian government seems happy to have you.  Let's call it green privilege.

More interesting, and less straightforward are those entering without this privilege, most notably from Venezuela.  I watch to see how this is handled in South America, in contrast to the Charlie Foxtrot that is our US Southern border.  First of all, I have nothing but empathy for those who flee countries where they are in constant fear for their lives and livelihoods.  I do not judge them for leaving and trying to support themselves and their loved ones.  Do I think all of these people should be admitted to the US?  No that is not feasible.  Not suggesting an open border at all, just pointing out that I do not judge them for trying.  I do think that we should legally admit more people than we do, especially considering our current labor shortage, at least for some type of guest work visa.

My question has been, do they all need to go to the US?  When it was people from Mexico, it made sense, we were right next door.  But folks other countries have been traveling long distances, through countries where their native toungue is spoken stating that only the US is "safe", and that is why they can't go anywhere else.  I have not been able to get information on if the whole of these countries are all "unsafe", and if there has been any attempt to make areas safer.  This means that the resources of the US have been severely stretched trying to process all of these impoverished people, which has led to very inadequate conditions, and less to house our own vulnerable citizens.  Perhaps as a nurse,  I had a front row seat to all of the citizens we are failing, and the devestating impact on our society.  Perhaps more migrants would also mean more tax dollars to help our own citizens, not sure if the type of jobs immigrants are able to secure would come out as a financial plus for the US.  If it does, it makes sense to admit more of them.  As a nurse, however, I took the stance that it is totally not my job to enforce the border, and if a vulnerable patient was in front of me, I would react with compassion, and do everything I legally could to access any and all resources for them, thinking but for the grace of God, go I.  I honestly think the US needs to have an honest discussion of how many migrants we can accomodate, what areas in the US have labor shortages, process this number of people into our country with dignity, welcome them and their contributions to society, and stop making them live in the shadows.  I also think there needs to be a way to apply without having people travel here and storm the border, as if we weren't maxing out on border facilities, we could provide better help to the people we welcome in.

So here, in Ecuador, it is largely Venezuelans that have come, traveling through Columbia.  Columbia has taken the most Venzuelan refugees, but Ecudaor, a country about the size of Colorado has also taken a fair share, over half a million.   And they are here, in Manta.  And Ecuador, to it's credit, seems to allow them to legally stay.  Last September, they started a "regularization process" for those that have crossed in, giving them more solid legal footing then they would have in the US waiting to find out if they qualify for "asylum" which is a very high bar to meet.  Ecuador seems to have accepted that severe economic conditions, and the violence that accompanies this, are a threat to human life, and a valid reason for coming.  According to a website I read https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuador-begins-regularization-process-thousands-venezuelan-migrants-2022-09-01/ Ecuador is moving towards trying to guarentee employment rights, as well as social support.  So this does look like a valid option.

It used to be that you could not actually get your visa, or cedula (government ID we are all required to have) in Manta.  You had to travel to a larger city, most commonly Guayaquil.  Guayaquil is the most dangerous city in Ecuador, as well as the largest.  It is possible to have a safe journey and accomodations, but it takes money and resources, which the Venezuelan Migrants do not have.  So they made an office for them here in Manta, so they don't have to travel.  Brian and I are now able to use this for our own legal immigration needs, but that was a recent development - it was opened first to those with more limited means.  I thought that was very decent of the government.

I guess the big question is "is it safe"?  Yes and no.  Manta is a relatively safe city, by South American standards, however, the more impoverished one is, the less safe options one has.  That is true in the US as well, obviously.  I would also argue that having more access to affordable housing - most of which has the ability to "lock down" at night is much safer than the alternative I see in Portland.  So is year round access to fresh produce, a means to access free health care where there is not a communication barrier, no extremes in temperature, much lower cost of living - all of these things lead to better health, and better life expectancy.

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't see the safety factor as a reason to keep treking to the US.  What there is less of in Ecuador is opportunity, and if one has children, less educational opportunity.  Still, it is not impossible.  We have a friend here that came with nothing but the clothes on his back (not from Venezuela, but still impoverished) and started washing buses - for only a couple of dollars per bus.  By being honest, and dependable, he explained, he was able to get a job as a bus driver, and worked himself up from there, and built his own business.  He now leads a reasonable middle class life, after a ton of hard work - and he still works very hard every day.  He also taught himself English, which helps with his business here.

On the other hand, he is not dismissive of the struggles of others.  Venezuelanians sometime complain about being discriminated against, of racism, xenophobia.  I think the truth is more complicated that that.  As our friend explains there are many, many qualified Ecuadorians without jobs, such as vetinarians, electricians.  Even nurses and doctors.  The issue is that for many jobs, in paricular jobs in the public sector, require money (actual bribes) or strong social connections.  He explained the vet that cares for Maya and seems to be reasonably busy is lucky (maybe so, but also pointing out she is an excellent doctor, who deserves her success) and many vets will have days with no clinets at all.  The friendly service people - electricians, plumbers,locksmith, etc - that show up so promptly have connections - which he quickly ferreted out asking us a couple of questions.  Gringo realtor feeds into English speaking driver, who has connections of just about any service we could need.  The people presented to us speak English to some extent.  Except the vet, whom we found through another source.  So if there are many Ecuadorians without the necessary social connections to get jobs, I can only imagine what it is like for an immigrant.  This is something most Gringos never experience because we have been vetted by the government as being able to look after ourselves, and I'd say about 80% or so are retired.  And some of us work online for American companies.  Very few are actual employed in Ecuador.

Anyway, these are my thoughts from the safety of my condo, and I am hoping that I can expand (or change, if needed) my way of thinking the longer I am here, and the more people that I meet.  Unlike in the US, I have not personally had the same opportunities for conversation with those fleeing their countries of origin.  I hope to rectify that, and continue to study Spanish, although it is slower going than I would like.