García, Jackson, Casar Lead Colleagues in Letter to Secretary Rubio Urging Suspension of Military Assistance to Ecuador as President Noboa Escalates Repression

CHICAGO - Representatives Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), and Greg Casar (TX-35), joined by 10 colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing profound concerns regarding surging authoritarianism in Ecuador, a country with which the Trump Administration has deepened military ties despite the rapid erosion of democracy and human rights there. The recent arrest of former presidential candidate Luisa González and crackdown on other opposition officials and parties marks the latest alarming phase in Ecuador's descent into de facto one-party rule by President Daniel Noboa and his allies.

The letter outlines how under President Daniel Noboa, "Ecuador has seen the repression of opposition actors across the political spectrum, attacks on judicial independence, and restrictions on the freedom of the press." The members urge Secretary Rubio to "immediately suspend all U.S. security assistance and military cooperation with the Noboa administration until democracy and the rule of law are fully restored, and the persecution of González and other opposition figures and parties cease."

Other concerns expressed by the Members about the Noboa government include its undermining of the judiciary, a prolonged "state of emergency" under which Noboa has claimed extraordinary powers, restricted civil liberties and abused human rights, and committed other abuses including torture, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and sexual abuse in women's prisons.

The Members warn Rubio that if the Trump Administration fails to take action to deter the Noboa government's authoritarian actions, Congress will use the tools at its disposal to compel a change of policy in the United States. The Members conclude, "The United States cannot credibly claim to support democracy and the fight against drug-trafficking and organized crime while at the same time expanding its security relationship with a government that is rapidly tightening its authoritarian grip on power."

In addition to Representatives García, Jackson, and Casar, the letter was signed by: Representatives Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

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