On July 7, 2021, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. Senators, led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), both members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and including Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) from the Senate Finance Committee, John Hoeven (R-ND) from the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation visited Quito.

Had a good visit at the Argelia Migrant shelter in Quito, #Ecuador to see the great work of @USAID and Jesuit Relief Services, helping migrant families achieve a better life. pic.twitter.com/pRX76UTmqf

— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) July 7, 2021

They met with officials from the Government of Ecuador, National Assembly, business leaders, and visited a JRS Ecuador-run shelter — Hogar de la Madre San Francisco — just outside of Quito.

“Ecuador is an important partner in the region, and I look forward to strengthening our bilateral relationship. This is why I was glad to co-lead our bipartisan Senate delegation to Quito today to enhance ties between our nations,” said Kaine.

JRS Ecuador supports the personal, economic, social, and political security of refugees. Through legal advocacy, JRS Ecuador raises awareness about the basic rights of migrants. They also work to encourage the inclusion and integration of refugees in host communities through participatory community programs.

Supported by the United States Department of State Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (PRM), the shelter visit offered an opportunity for US Senators to understand the current reality of Colombian and Venezuelan migrants.