The US imposes visa bans on former Ecuadorian heads of state and government because of corruption

The Biden administration on Wednesday imposed visa bans on former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, his vice president and their immediate families over corruption.

The State Department announced that Correa and his former deputy Jorge Glas were no longer eligible to enter the United States. The ban also applies to their spouses and children.

Correa was President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. He took political positions that were often at odds with US policy, notably opening the Ecuadorian embassy in London to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange while he was still wanted by the United States.

Correa was convicted in absentia on corruption charges in Ecuador in 2020 and sentenced to eight years in prison. He has been living in exile in Belgium since 2017.

“Correa and Glas abused their positions as former president of Ecuador and former vice president of Ecuador, respectively, by accepting bribes, including through political contributions, in exchange for the award of favorable government contracts,” said Matthew Miller, spokesman for the State Department.

“The United States stands with Ecuadorians, including members of civil society, law enforcement and investigative journalists, and is committed to increasing government transparency and holding corrupt officials accountable,” Miller said in a statement.