The United States revokes visas for several judges and lawyers in Ecuador | CNN

Ecuador investigates "narcogenerales" designated by the US 4:35

(CNN Spanish) -

 The United States embassy in Ecuador reported through a press release that it revoked the non-immigrant visas of several Ecuadorian judges and other people who work in the legal and judicial spheres, considering that "they no longer qualify for these visas ".

"The US embassy takes the issue of corruption seriously and will continue to carefully review visas already granted and new visa applications," he said.

The representation emphasized that visa registrations are reserved and that it will not comment on individual cases.

"Having a visa is a privilege, not a right. The decision to issue a visa is a sovereign decision," the embassy clarified.

• Upset in Ecuador for 'narcogenerales' case: 19 members of the police leadership make their position available

CNN contacted the Judicial Council that regulates the behavior of judges to request a reaction on the withdrawal of visas from members of the judicial function, but they indicated that President María del Carmen Maldonado is reviewing the issue before issuing a pronouncement.

The 'narcogenerales' case

The revocation of visas by the United States to Ecuadorian citizens has escalated since July 2020, when Ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick announced the withdrawal of visas to 300 Ecuadorian citizens investigated for crimes of corruption, and then, in December 2021, Fitzpatrick reported on the "narcogenerales" case, which has to do with the withdrawal of visas by senior commanders of the security forces of the Ecuadorian State who are allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

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Following that statement, the Minister of Government, Alexandra Vela, sent a letter to Ambassador Fitzpatrick requesting information about the generals whose visas have been withdrawn.

In the letter, released by the Ministry of Government, Minister Vela warned that Fitzpatrick's statement "generates enormous concern and alarm."

"It is inadmissible that high dignities of the security forces can be found involved in such heinous crimes," Vela said in December.

The United States embassy in its statement on Monday insisted that its country has "broad authority" to deny and revoke visas according to information that establishes that the holder of a visa may be inadmissible in the United States and warned that it will continue to use this. authority to advance efforts to fight corruption and organized crime.