United States and Ecuador transfer 121 people under asylum agreement

Under a 2025 Asylum Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Ecuador, 121 individuals have been physically transferred to Ecuador as of June 2026. The agreement, established through diplomatic notes in July 2025, facilitates the transfer of non-Ecuadorian citizens to Ecuador.

Data from the ‘Data Deportation Project’ indicates that the project has tracked deportations of non-Ecuadorians to the country since February 2023, covering 14 different nationalities. Approximately 23% of the recorded deportees had convictions or pending cases in the United States. The agreement specifically excludes unaccompanied minors and maintains a commitment to the principle of non-refoulement.

In exchange for hosting migrants, Ecuador, under President Daniel Noboa, has received security assistance, tariff benefits, and U.S. troop deployments. An Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated in September 2025 that an annual cap of 300 asylum seekers had been established.