The Ecuadoran Immigration and Aliens law went into effect today, giving this country the most liberal law of its type in the Americas. The law was published months ago but was left pending until the Agriculture, Interior and Foreign Ministries had drafted the various instruments necessary to its enactment.
The law, is termed exceptionally humane by interested parties here. During its drafting, representatives of Jewish immigration societies were repeatedly consulted. One of the principal authors of the law is Dr. Malo Andrade, newly-designated Immigration Director, who was educated in England and whose sympathy for Jewish immigrants is well known. Another important factor has been the satisfactory contribution made by 3,000 Jewish immigrants to the country’s development.
The law permits Ecuadoran consuls abroad to issue travel documents to eligible immigrants lacking passports, reduces the entry deposit from $5,000 per family to $400 per family, plus $100 per person, which will be refunded when the immigrants have engaged in some type of business, industry of f farming. The entry deposit is waived for (1) immigrants who will be supported by relatives here, (2) immigrants with a minimum of $3,300 to invest in bonds here, (3) persons with a fairly large income from abroad.
The activities open to immigrants include not only agriculture and industry, but also the export trade and medicine. Specialists sought by industry here are exempt from the entry deposit regulation.
Entry is forbidden to propagandists upbuilding doctrines at variance with the democratic tenets of Ecuador. Foreigners are granted all the individual rights of citizens, except the franchise, but collectively have no rights since Ecuador does not recognize any minorities. First citizenship papers may be obtained after two years residence and final naturalization a year later.
Ecuador is virtually the only South American country still open to Jewish immigrants. In January, the authorities permitted entry of 40 Jewish families who had travelled here via Siberia and Japan and were barred from entering several countries on this continent. A monthly immigration quota has been provided but in view of transportation difficulties it is doubted that the quota will be filled.
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