US immigration enforcement officers have drawn criticism after attempting to enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis, prompting a formal protest from the Ecuadorian government. Video footage shared online shows masked ICE agents approaching the diplomatic building before being stopped by consulate staff, who reminded them that the premises are foreign government property and off limits to US law enforcement without permission.
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Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it immediately issued a note of protest to the US Embassy in Quito, requesting assurances that similar incidents would not occur again. Under international law, embassies and consulates are considered part of the sovereign territory of the state they represent, and entry by local authorities is generally prohibited except in emergencies.
Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne said he had spoken with Ecuador’s ambassador, who suggested the agents may have approached the building in error. Payne also stated that ICE officers later entered a nearby café frequented by protesters, where witnesses alleged they issued warnings about future arrests.
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The incident comes amid wider scrutiny of ICE operations in Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in recent weeks. In both cases, senior administration figures initially described the individuals as posing serious threats, accounts that were later challenged by video evidence and witness statements, fuelling ongoing public and political debate over immigration enforcement tactics in the city.
