"Unraveling Ecuador's Escalating Wave of Violence"

Hooded gunmen stormed a live television show in Ecuador, taking hostages and causing chaos, reflecting a surge in violence linked to drug trafficking gangs. The government has declared an "internal armed conflict" and designated drug trafficking gangs as terrorist groups, authorizing military operations to "neutralize" them. The situation has raised concerns about human and civil rights, potential impact on U.S. migration, and the upcoming election in Ecuador.