The Angulo family’s story is a striking portrait of Ecuador’s recent struggles, illustrating how escalating violence and gang activity are compelling many to leave their homeland. For generations, the Angulo family has lived in San Mateo, a fishing village where residents like Oswaldo, the eldest brother, have traditionally built their lives around the sea. But as crime intensifies, opportunities for a safe livelihood are becoming scarce, and the peaceful community is unraveling under the weight of extortion, kidnappings, and loss.

Anthony, the middle son, has joined an unprecedented wave of Ecuadorians migrating to the U.S., escaping what he describes as worsening threats and instability. Meanwhile, Marlon, the youngest brother, is serving time in the U.S. after falling into drug trafficking, a path some Ecuadorian fishermen have taken as gangs tighten their grip on coastal areas. Despite differing paths, each Angulo brother’s experience reflects the deteriorating circumstances facing many Ecuadorians.

The economic toll of gang activity is severe. Extortion, or “vacunas” (literally “vaccines”), is imposed on everyone from small business owners to fishermen, draining resources and eroding safety. The Angulo family, like many, has been forced to make sacrifices to protect themselves, selling a valuable boat motor to fund Anthony’s journey to the U.S. His arrival marks a difficult transition, with him working in a New Jersey factory to send money home, all while awaiting an asylum case that could take years.

Ecuador’s challenges have reshaped the country, once known as a safe haven in Latin America, into one where no region is unscathed by gang violence. This crisis has catalyzed a mass exodus, similar to movements in Colombia, Honduras, and Haiti, as people search for stability and security that their home countries can no longer guarantee. Anthony’s hope of returning home is now tinged with uncertainty—a sentiment echoed by countless Ecuadorians facing the same difficult choice.