Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The government of President Daniel Noboa has terminated a migration statute that had made it easier for Venezuelan citizens in Ecuador to obtain visas and residency, closing a bilateral agreement that had been in place for 15 years.
The government cited "suspensions and cuts" in funding for the programs that allowed Ecuador to provide migration benefits. It also pointed to security concerns and the need to strengthen border controls.
The statute had been in effect since 2011, during the government of Rafael Correa, and established a simplified procedure for Venezuelans to obtain visas and residency.
The formal request to end the statute was issued by the presidency in March and approved by the National Assembly in late August, based on the analysis and report prepared by the Commission on International Relations and Human Mobility.
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