Ecuador Protests ICE Attempt to Enter Consulate in Minneapolis

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to enter Ecuador's consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday, but staff denied them access, prompting Ecuador's Foreign Ministry to file a formal diplomatic protest with the U.S. Embassy in Quito.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. local time, according to the ministry. Consulate officials blocked the agents from entering the building, activating emergency protocols to safeguard Ecuadorian nationals inside. Videos shared on social media captured the confrontation, showing staff asserting the consulate's sovereignty and preventing entry as the agents insisted on proceeding. The ministry described the event as an attempted incursion and emphasized that the staff's actions protected those present.

Ecuador's Foreign Minister immediately sent a note of protest to the U.S. Embassy, demanding assurances that such incidents would not recur at any Ecuadorian consular offices in the United States. "In light of the above, the Chancellor of the Republic immediately presented a note of protest to the Embassy of the United States in Ecuador so that acts of this nature do not recur," the ministry stated.

The attempted entry took place amid a...