Bolivian President Luis Arce proposed on Monday at the extraordinary summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) that the bloc bring before the United Nations the declaration of migration as a “human right” to prevent its “criminalization” by any “superpower.”

“The real challenge lies in preventing any attempt to criminalize migration. We must ensure dignified treatment for every person on the move,” Arce stated during a virtual address at the plenary session, which also commemorated the 230th anniversary of liberator Antonio José de Sucre.

The Bolivian president suggested that the countries within ALBA should “be the driving force in the multilateral arena to have the United Nations declare migration as a human right.”

“We have seen scenes of deportation from the U.S. of men and women shackled and handcuffed, evoking memories of slavery… we cannot accept these violations of migrants’ rights,” he emphasized.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa ordered the closure of the country’s borders on Monday, one day before and two days after the upcoming general elections on Sunday, in which he is running for re-election. He justified the measure as a response to attempts at destabilization by armed groups.

In a brief message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the president ordered the reinforcement of military presence on the country’s northern and southern borders “in response to attempts at destabilization by armed groups,” without providing further details or identifying them. He specified that the measure would be in effect from February 8 to 10, during which “the borders will remain closed.”

The elections, in which Noboa is seeking re-election for a four-year term, will take place on Sunday, February 9. Noboa has focused his government policy on the fight against violence, and since January 2024, the country has been under an internal armed conflict state, which allows the mobilization of the military for security tasks.

The president also ordered the military to take control of “the ports immediately,” without providing further explanation for the decision. The ports have been identified as key departure points for large quantities of drugs, particularly cocaine from Colombia, destined for the United States and Europe, among others. Last year, the Ecuadorian police seized approximately 294 tons of drugs.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent a message to Parliament on Monday, marking the opening of the legislative year, in which he celebrated the “extraordinary opportunities” presented by the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU).

The agreement, announced last December, “creates the largest free trade market in the world, opens extraordinary opportunities for Brazil and its neighbors,” and was reached “in a geopolitical context of growing protectionism and unilateralism,” Lula emphasized in his message, which was read during a solemn session of Parliament.

Negotiations between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, with Bolivia in the final stages of joining) had been ongoing for 25 years, concluded last December, and are now in the process of technical review and ratification.

On the external front, Lula also reaffirmed his defense of “multilateralism” in international relations and, on the domestic front, proposed “dialogue and respect” with Parliament to strengthen democracy and economic growth.