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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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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 Foreign 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.
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Newsweek has contacted the consulate and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, for comment.
Why It Matters
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.
What To Know
Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry did not provide additional details on the incident. Witnesses working at nearby retail businesses told Reuters they observed immigration agents attempting to enter the consulate after pursuing individuals who had gone inside the building. One witness, who requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation, said the agents did not gain entry.
The attempted entry occurred amid a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis involving ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents, part of what the Department of Homeland Security has called "Operation Metro Surge."
The operation has been overshadowed by increased tensions after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents. Amid calls for a reduction in tensions, Trump administration official Tom Homan met on Tuesday with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to discuss the situation.
What People Are Saying
**The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a post on social media: "**Consulate officials immediately prevented the ICE officer from entering the consular building, thus ensuring the safety of the Ecuadorians present at the time."
What Happens Next
The consulate said additional updates will be published as soon as they are received from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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