Evidently referring to the immigration of Jewish refugees into Ecuador during the last few years, Manuel Paredes Lasso, Chief of the Immigration Department, in an article in the press here, states that the country is not interested in immigrants who upon entering Ecuador “form isolated groups and intend to return to their native lands when circumstances turn favorable for them.”
At the same time, he announced that the government is resolved “to open the doors of the country to healthy people who want to come here to be absorbed into our nationality and to increase our productive capacity.” He revealed that a special commission has been appointed by the government to prepare the text of a new immigration law and that special immigration officers will be stationed in European capitals for the purpose of selecting immigrants from among those who apply for visas for Ecuador.
Jewish circles here resent Lasso’s reference to Jewish refugees. They emphasize that the government always declared that no discrimination as to race or religion will be made among visa applicants, and they express the hope that this policy will be maintained in the future.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
