In February 2016, a very progressive national law on human mobility was approved (recognized by ILO and UNHCR) to guarantee migrants can have identity cards etc.; and exercise all rights of Ecuadorians particularly access to high-level universal health and education, as well as access to justice.

The new law, unanimously passed by the National Assembly represents a major step in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers and updates the framework for the regularization of the status of immigrants, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and victims of trafficking and human smuggling, as well as their families. The law also establishes important principles, such as equal treatment before the law, not returning people to countries where their life or basic rights could be threatened (“refoulement”) and the non-criminalization of irregular migration.