Ecuadorian authorities on Monday repatriated 26 Cubans who arrived at the International Airport in Quito without a letter of invitation, reported the Café Fuerte website.

“The refusal to allow them to entry our country was bitterly contested by Cuban citizens.Some of them chastised the Ecuadorian authorities with insults, shouting and falling onto the ground,” read a statement from the Ministry of the Interior of that Andean nation.

For their part, the Cubans argued that they had taken the flight before the current requirement of the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry of a letter of invitation took effect, which came into force that same day.