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Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent tried to enter its consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday. However, consulate staff stopped the agent and would not let him inside. As a result, the ministry sent a formal protest note to the US Embassy in Quito to demand that similar incidents do not occur again.
Consulate Staff Block Entry
The ministry called the event an “attempted incursion” by an ICE agent. Staff members acted quickly to keep the agent out and protect Ecuadorian citizens inside the building. Eyewitnesses nearby said they saw officers pursue two people into the consulate before being denied entry.
Context of Larger Enforcement Operation
The incident happened during a large immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota involving about 3,000 ICE and US Border Patrol agents. This effort, known as Operation Metro Surge, has attracted widespread attention and protests after the deaths of two residents in related law enforcement actions.
International Law and Diplomatic Rules
Under international law, diplomatic missions such as consulates are protected from unauthorized entry by foreign law enforcement agents. Therefore, officials at the consulate acted within their rights to block the ICE agent’s entry.
Protests and Tensions in Minnesota
Tensions tied to the immigration operation remain high in Minneapolis and beyond. Federal officials are meeting with local leaders to discuss ways to ease conflict as enforcement continues.
