The Illusion of Safety: Evaluating the U.S.-Ecuador Asylum Cooperative Agreement

This post examines the Asylum Cooperation Agreement (ACA) between the United States and Ecuador, which authorises the transfer of asylum seekers to Ecuadorian territory. The analysis argues that this agreement represents a worrying externalisation of U.S. responsibilities, raising critical issues for both domestic and international refugee law. The designation of a «safe third country» requires the host state to guarantee fair procedures, effective protection, and strict compliance with the principle of non-refoulement. However, Ecuador’s institutional fragility compromises these standards. Recent legislative reforms have restricted access to asylum; while escalating internal violence, displacement, and widespread xenophobia expose vulnerable populations to extreme risks. Consequently, the article raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of these transfers, characterising them as a de facto circumvention of protection obligations.