Ecuador’s government has condemned an attempt by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to enter its consulate in Minneapolis without permission, calling the incident a serious breach of international diplomatic norms.
The incident happened Tuesday during a large federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota involving ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents. Consulate staff stopped the agent from entering the building, which is protected under international law, and activated emergency protocols to safeguard Ecuadorian citizens inside.
Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry described the episode as an “attempted incursion into the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis by ICE agents” and immediately filed a formal diplomatic protest—known as a “note of protest”—to the U.S. Embassy in Quito. The ministry demanded assurances that similar incidents would not happen again at other Ecuadorian diplomatic missions in the United States.
Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular offices and similar diplomatic premises are considered inviolable, meaning they cannot be entered by authorities from the host country without the consent of the consul or diplomatic head. Consent may only be assumed in limited emergency situations, such as a fire or other urgent protective action, which was not the case here, Ecuador said
Video clips shared on social media show a consulate official barring the ICE agent at the doorway, repeatedly stating that the premises are the Ecuadorian consulate and not open for entry by foreign law enforcement. At one point in the footage, an ICE agent can be heard warning that he would “grab” the official if touched, although the agents ultimately withdrew.
Ecuador’s protest reflects broader diplomatic sensitivities about protecting diplomatic and consular territory, especially in the context of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement. The attempted entry comes amid “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale federal effort in Minneapolis that has drawn national attention and local protests, particularly after federal agents were involved in controversial shootings.
Consular officials said their swift action ensured the safety of Ecuadorian nationals present at the mission during the incident. Ecuador’s government has made it clear that it views diplomatic facilities as protected spaces and expects U.S. authorities to respect those protections going forward.
The U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet publicly responded to Ecuador’s protest or provided comment on the attempted entry.
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