A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday but was blocked by consulate staff, according to a statement from Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry. The incident prompted the Foreign Ministry to issue a formal “note of protest” to the U.S. Embassy in Quito, urging that such occurrences not be repeated.
The Foreign Ministry characterized the incident as an “attempted incursion into the Ecuadorian Consulate by ICE agents.” The consulate’s staff acted to protect Ecuadorian nationals present in the building at the time, highlighting their efforts to maintain the safety and sovereignty of Ecuadorian diplomatic premises.
The uproar arises amidst a broader context in which about 3,000 heavily armed ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents are undertaking mass deportation operations across Minnesota, carried out under orders from President Donald Trump.
While neither the State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security has provided immediate comments, eyewitnesses near the consulate reported observing immigration agents pursuing two individuals who sought refuge inside. One witness recounted, “I saw the officers going after two people in the street, and then those people went into the consulate and the officers tried to go in after them.” Fortunately, the agents were unable to breach the consulate’s defenses.
According to international treaty laws, embassies and consulates are regarded as sovereign territories of their respective nations, offering protection under diplomatic immunity from unauthorized entry by foreign agents.
This incident is occurring in the wake of “Operation Metro Surge,” Trump’s increased immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis, which have unfortunately been linked to two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens. This has ignited widespread protests both locally and nationally against the current immigration enforcement tactics.
In light of growing political pressure to ease tensions, Tom Homan, designated as Trump’s border czar, met with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to explore potential resolutions to the ongoing crisis. The situation remains fluid, and the hope is that continued dialogue may pave the way for more peaceful regulation of immigration enforcement.
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