From the middle of the world to the center of the pandemic

After leaving Ecuador, "the middle of the world", Ecuadorians look for alternatives to fight against unemployment, limited access to food, and closed borders in New York City.

Francisco, a 29 year-old Ecuadorian, walks through the sidewalks of Jackson Heights in Northeast Queens. "I live in a basement shared with three other people. We all got infected with the virus, but thank God we have recovered," shares as he walks to his workplace, a fast-food restaurant in the neighborhood. "For me, it was almost asymptomatic, only headaches and chills. I had to go back to work because I really underestimated this disease, and I don't have enough money to survive," he adds.

The streets of Jackson Heights, which are usually full of Latin American shops, speakers with loud music, and street food stalls, are deserted. The neighborhood known as one of the most diverse areas in the world, cohabited by different communities such as the Latino, Filipino, Hindu, Pakistani, among others, remains silent. This area is the most affected in ​​the city, and now is the world's epicenter of COVID-19.

According to official data, New York City registers more than 151,258 cases, from which 48,745 are in Queens. This crisis has also paralyzed and affected other neighborhoods around Jackson Heights, such as Corona, Elmhurst, and East Elmhurst, sites with a high density of immigrant communities, people of color and essential workers.

The Elmhurst Public Hospital has collapsed, it has a chaotic emergency room and long lines of people waiting outside to be tested. "Today, Elmhurst Hospital is the epicenter of the epicenter because it faces an extraordinary increase in cases," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference last week.

Joel, 36, lives next to the hospital. "Everything in the neighborhood is dead: The delis, shops, and restaurants. Everything is closed! I live in the spotlight, and 24 hours a day, I hear ambulances pass by. You get that fear," declares.

He came from the city of Cuenca, Ecuador to New York City in 2016. As an undocumented immigrant, he found a job in construction and was sending money to help build a house for his family in Ecuador. In mid-March, he lost his job.  

Although the Ecuadorian community in New York is not as old as the Italian or Chinese, spontaneous migration started at the beginning of the 20th century. But it was not until the 1960s when the first massive migratory flux began.

After the economic prosperity of Ecuador in the 1970s due to the discovery and exploitation of oil fields, a financial crisis in the 1980s spurred new emigration waves. Provinces such as Azuay and Azogues, located in the southern part of the country, felt the tensions of the crisis that forced many Ecuadorians to migrate to the United States. Many came to New York City since, for decades, it has been a place for merchants to trade Ecuadorian Paja Toquilla hats, better known as "Panama Hats".

Although most of these immigrants were undocumented and worked in construction or service jobs, 16,000 Ecuadorians became legal residents after 1986 thanks to "The Immigration and Reform Control Act."

In 1999, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis. In just a few months, the savings of millions of Ecuadorians froze in the banks and lost value by more than five times. Shortly after, the country`s currency changed to US dollars. 

This crisis caused a massive migration to Spain, Italy, and the United States. During the first five years of the 2000s, the most significant immigration flux was to New York City and new comers stablished themselves in neighborhoods such as Corona, Elmhurst, or Jackson Heights in Queens, Newark in New Jersey, and Peekskill in Upstate New York.

Today, the neighborhoods that host Ecuadorian shops, restaurants and community centers, are the most affected by the COVID-19.

According to an official report released by New York City, COVID-19 is two times more deadly for Latinos and Blacks, than for Whites. The data reflects the gap of social inequality, and lack of health access, said Mayor De Blasio in a press conference held weeks ago. 

Latinos represent 34% of the people who have died of coronavirus in New York City. A study by Scott Stringer, the city's Comptroller, states that more than 60% of people who work in cleaning jobs are Latinos, and more than 40% of transit workers are blacks. 

The study adds that 75% of workers operating in the battlefront, such as bodega clerks and warehouse operators, bus and train operators, janitors, and infant caregivers, are minorities.

Although New York City offers medical services regardless of immigration status during the crisis, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city's Health Commissioner, said that members of the Hispanic community are more likely to desist from seeking health services. One of the reasons is the anti-immigrant narrative that has been positioned in the country during recent years.

Joel and his construction coworkers, had mild COVID-19 symptoms in early May. None of them got tested and they didn't seek medical attention, as they can't afford a health insurance plan. Official data also shows that 35% of the total uninsured population in the city are latinos.

"We faced it (COVID-19) with natural remedies and hot beverages", says Joel.

"My neighbor was infected and he disappeared for two weeks. We called all the hospitals in Queens and we couldn't find him," declares Francisco.

"Latinos represent 34% of the people who have died of coronavirus."

A study conducted by New American Economy states that during this crisis undocumented immigrants are the most vulnerable group, as they serve as essential workers in the most critical labor fronts.

In New York City, more than 40,000 undocumented workers, from different nationalities, participate in the healthcare industry as nursing assistants, home health aides, cleaning, and maintenance crews who enable healthcare facilities to function. 

Walter Sinche, executive director of Alianza Ecuatoriana Internacional, says that the crisis has intensified the lack of housing, work, and food. His community center, based in Corona, Queens, works to reduce racial crimes within the community through education, training, and cultural reinforcement. However, during the last weeks, this non-profit has offered medical and food services. "We needed to change our objectives as an organization to serve the needs of our community," Walter says.

Sinche, who has worked in the community for more than 14 years, adds that overcrowded housing is one of the reasons why neighborhoods in Queens have become the focus of the infection. "A house that should be for one family is occupied by three: One on the first floor, another in the basement and a third family on the second floor. In these overcrowded houses, people also sublet rooms, which is one of the indicators of why people got infected," says. 

This crisis is the result of a city with limited access to housing, small control over overpriced rents, and laws that celebrate gentrification. Reasons that historically have pushed communities of color and working families to live in shared households.

A map posted by the New York Times shows that whiter and wealthier areas in New York City such as Mid-town and down town Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn are less impacted by the crisis. In contrast, working-class neighborhoods such as the South and East Brooklyn, the Bronx, Harlem, or Washington Heights in upper Manhattan have registered the highest fatal rates. 

Data points out that labor inequality is another reason for this crisis. The study from New American Economy adds that the majority of undocumented migrants commonly work in the hotel and food industry.

Many of them live on a minimun wage as delivery boys who have been essential to distributing food, medicine, and other supplies during the crisis. In New York, one in three people who work in delivery services is undocumented.

Due to his status, leave of absence or paid vacations is not an option for Francisco. "It is mandatory for us to leave our homes to work. Every day, I serve clients with a cough or the flu, possibly with COVID-19," says.

Miriam Puente is another undocumented immigrant who came from Morona Santiago, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon. She lives in Newark, New Jersey and shares her apartment with three other Ecuadorians. Before the crisis, she worked as an assistant at one of the street food kiosks on Roosevelt Avenue, a commercial artery that crosses the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Corona, and Flushing in Queens.

Like all of her roommates, Miriam lost her job three months ago. Her savings ran out, but they are supporting each other. "Some of them are helping me with some food, but we are all running out of groceries. That's why we are only eating once a day," she says.

Angeles Solis is an organizer in Make The Road, a non-profit that serves the Latin American immigrant community. On a Facebook live, she said that 4 out of 10 Latinos in New York City had lost their jobs. Another report conducted by the firm Latino Decisions states that two out of three Latino households (65%) in the United States have also lost their jobs because of the crisis. "Being the construction, restaurant, and cleaning industries amongst the most affected," adds Angeles. 

"...two out of three Latino households (65%) in the United States have also lost their jobs.

Alianza Ecuatoriana Internacional, through other organizations and donations from the community, has managed to offer free food in Corona. A few weeks ago, they started distributing 250 portions for lunch and dinner. But during the last days, the demand has grown to 500 or 700 servings. Similarly, religious centers such as The Queens Temple Christian Church and the Salvation Army in Queens, offer free meals and groceries Monday through Friday.

Francisco says that people are in line as early as 5 am, and the waiting time can take up to three hours. Miriam adds that she has traveled from Newark to Jackson Heights in search of food and help, but because of the high numbers of people, she wasn't able to get anything.

Although there are difficulties, these community centers refill their shelves every day. "Before the crisis, there was a sense of competition or nationalistic pride among the different Latino nationalities. But the crisis has demonstrated the solidarity towards the immigrant community," says Sinche.

The currency outflow from the United States to Ecuador is a fundamental income for the country's economy, representing 3,6 times the foreign investment. According to The Ecuadorian Central Bank, in the last two decades, the country has received a total of $49,125.5 million dollars.

Economy Analyst Rodrigo Mendieta, in an interview for Lideres magazine on January 20th, states that this income is mostly used for expenses and not investment. 

The majority of remittances are used for living expenses of immigrants relatives, followed by the purchase of vehicles, household appliances, and housing construction. Little investment focuses on productive sectors such as small businesses.

In 2019, Ecuador received the highest amount of remittance income, with a total of $3,234.65 million. 58,47% of this amount came from the United States.

The COVID- 19 pandemic crisis has decreased the remittances influx in Ecuador. The World Bank calculated that this year's remittances will fall around 20%.

"It's been two weeks that I don't have money to send at all," says Miriam. As a single mother, she sends money to her parents and three children in Ecuador. "They don't have food either, and I don't know what to do."

"I was building my house in Ecuador. Everything I earned was sent to my home and my children, but now I stopped sending money," says Joel.

For Economist Nicolás Gachet, the Ecuadorian model based on remittances has been historically problematic for its economy. "The main problem is that Ecuador has to bring dollars for the economy to continue working. Remittances meant a huge money inflow, which made dollarization sustainable. Today, due to the lack of liquidity and lack of dollars, we can't cover immediate financing needs."

The COVID-19 emergency forced the authorities to close borders and shut down airports. On April 23, Governor Cuomo closed New York Airports. On March 16, the Ecuadorian government prohibited the entrance to any international flight.

Mercedes Mendoza, 21, came from the city of Riobamba to New York City as a tourist in mid-march. "I came with my grandmother for only ten days, and now I can't get back," she says.

Although she and her grandmother lost their return tickets, they are staying with a relative in Queens. Hundreds of solitary tourists don't have the same luck, and "they have to pay a hotel room out of pocket until further notice," Mercedes adds.

Independent and civil groups, with the help of New York Assemblywoman Paquita Cabrera, has been organizing return flights to Ecuador through a Whatsapp group.

As airports are closed, the only way to return is by applying for a particular flight permit at the Ecuadorian Consulate through a Google Form. With this, each traveler enters into a waiting list. After qualifying, they have access to a private charter flight with a price as high as $900, with no discount rates for the elderly or children.

These flights are approved by the National COE (Ecuadorian Emergency Operations Council) and by the Ecuadorian Embassy in Washington DC. The Ecuadorian Government, through their consulates, are only responsible for promoting and managing flying applications. 

"We rent a plane from Lan, Tame, or Avianca airlines. The operating cost of renting a plane is really high ($85,000). The Ecuadorian government has no money to take on this operation, so tourism wholesalers have decided to take that risk," says Alexandra Aldaz, from Puerta Al Sol, a travel agency that is organizing flights from New York to Quito.

To return, Ecuadorian citizens have to accept one condition. Once in their country, as a safety measure, travelers are obligated to quarantine in assigned hotels and motels for 15 days. This service also must be paid by travelers with no financial help from the government. The average accommodation in these places ranges from $325 to $500 for the 15 days. In total, between flight tickets and hotel, each traveler needs around $1200 to return. In Ecuador, the minimum wage is $400 a month.

After two months, Mercedes managed to get a flight. "If you don't find a way to return by yourself, the Consulate will not help you. I found two tickets, $265 each, on an airline's website. I don't have any money now. I could pay everything after borrowing money from a friend in the USA," concludes Mercedes who is on mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Quito.

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With 197.000 confirmed cased of COVID-19 and 16,410 deaths, mayor De Blasio says that fatalities have decreased. New York City is still partially closed, and Ecuadorian immigrants, like the rest of New Yorkers, are waiting with uncertainty for the post-crisis reality.

"Its been years without my family, so I'm open to the idea of returning to my country. However, Ecuador is worse. There is no money and no jobs so I dont know how I would face that. I don't know. That stops me from returning too," Joel concludes.