United States immigration agents tried to enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday but were denied access by consulate staff, according to the country’s Foregin Ministry.
Consulate officials said they stopped an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent from entering the building and activated emergency protocols to protect Ecuadorian nationals who were present at the time. Videos circulating on social media show staff denying the agency entry to the building.
Ecuador’s government called the incident an “attempted incursion” and filed a formal “note of protest” with the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Quito, seeking assurances that similar actions would not occur in the future.
Under international law, consular offices are protected from unauthorized entry by host country authorities. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which the U.S. has ratified, bars law enforcement from entering areas of a functioning consulate used for official business without permission from the head of the consulate, except in emergencies such as a fire or other immediate danger.
This is a developing story; updates to follow.
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