Military base referendum could be expanded; Ecuador vs. Peru tonight in Lima; Ecuador not included on U.S. deportation priority list; Events in Cuenca

The government is considering adding more questions to the referendum that would allow foreign military facilities in the country. Among the issues being considered for inclusion are measures that would increase penalties for violent crimes, tighten firearms controls and require judges to keep criminal suspects behind bars pending trial.

“Because citizens will be voting to strengthen the fight against crime, we may add other questions with the same intent,” says Interior Minister John Reimberg. “One possible issue is making it mandatory for violent criminals to serve their full sentence for their crimes. Others would increase penalties for those found with weapons and contraband in areas around prisons and require the judiciary to keep dangerous suspects in prison until their trial dates.”

Fewer Ecuadorians have been deported from the U.S. in 2025 than in 2024.

Reimberg added: “The public made it clear in the last election that confronting crime forcefully is their top priority so this will be our objective in the referendum.”

Voters could go to the polls as early as August or September to vote on the referendum questions, following a review by the Constitutional Court.

Ecuador vs. Peru tonight
Ecuador’s national football team plays Peru in Lima Tuesday night with an eye on officially clinching a spot in next year’s World Cup tournament. The team currently ranks second in the 10-team South American field following last week’s scoreless draw with Brazil in Guayaquil. Kick-off is 8:30 p.m.

Tri-color coach Sebastián Beccacece said Monday he is hopeful that Ecuador’s all-time leading scorer Enner Valencia will be in the lineup. Valencia sat out the Brazil game with a muscle injury. “He is improving and worked out with the team on Sunday,” the coach said. “We’ll make a final decision on his availability before gametime.”

Valencia’s presence is important as Ecuador has struggled to score goals in the qualifiers. He has scored five of the team’s 13 goals through the first 15 qualifier games. The Tri’s strength is its defense, which has yielded only five goals.

The game will be broadcast on “open signal” through special arrangements by the government and can be seen on Ecuador TV and TC Television.

Ecuador is off U.S. deportation priority list
Despite increased efforts to deport undocumented migrants in the U.S., the number of Ecuadorians deported in 2025 is lower than in 2024. “We are not on the U.S. deportation priority list,” the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

According to the ministry, less than 3,000 Ecuadorians have been sent home by U.S. authorities since January, compared to 4,700 in the same period of 2024. “The focus of the U.S. is on foreigners who are involved in criminal activities or are suspected of being part of criminal gangs,” the ministry said. “Ecuadorians are not included in these categories.”

The ministry said that President Daniel Noboa’s March meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump was “crucial” in determining the status of Ecuadorians in the U.S. “The U.S. president assured President Noboa that its immigration policies were aimed at criminal elements from other countries.”

Events in Cuenca
Straw hat weaving workshops. The Museo Municipal de la Paja Toquilla y el Sombrero will hold free hat weaving workshops around the city starting in the rural parishes of El Valle and Baños. Participants will learn how to select, treat, and weave the straw as well as the historic, cultural, and social/economic aspects of the weaving communities. In El Valle, classes will be from July 9 to 31, Monday to Thursday, from 2:30 p,m. to 4:30 p.m. Classes in Baños will be from July 10 to 31, Monday to Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Classes will be repeated in August for those who sign up but can’t get into a July class due to limited space. For more information consult the museum’s website.

“Pinceladas del Sur” art exhibit. 17 artists from El Oro Province are showing their works in the Efraín Jara Idrovo gallery of the Salón del Pueblo, corner of Marisal Sucre y Benigno Malo. The exhibit is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Elefante and Bacilos in concert. The performance is Saturday, June 21 at 8:30 p.m. at the Jeferson Perez Coliseum, Tickets are available at La Victoria stores, the Oro Verde Hotel and at the Ticketshow website, ticketshow. com.ec