MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday morning without authorization, prompting Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to file a formal diplomatic protest with the U.S. Embassy, according to the ministry.
International diplomatic agreements generally require that federal or local law enforcement obtain explicit consent before entering consular or embassy property, except in rare emergency circumstances. Consulate staff prevented the officers from entering the building and activated internal security protocols, officials said. (RELATED: Trump Says Homeland Security Secretary Noem Will Stay In Post Despite Backlash)
As Axios noted, federal agents are generally prohibited under international law from entering an embassy or consulate without the consent of the consul or ambassador:
A note of protest was “immediately” submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, asking that similar acts not be repeated at any offices in the country, per the post.
Video circulating online shows a consulate employee moving to block the doorway and stating, “This is the Ecuadorian consulate. You’re not allowed to enter.” In the footage, an ICE officer can be heard warning he would “grab” the staff member if touched before officers ultimately left the property. (RELATED: Bill O’Reilly Flips Out When Host Says Trump ‘Backing Down’ After Shooting)
The consulate is clearly marked, with signage above the entrance identifying it as an official diplomatic facility.
Any unauthorized entry would raise serious questions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a treaty the United States ratified in 1969 that outlines protections for consular premises and personnel.
Ecuador’s foreign ministry said it filed the protest “so that similar attempts aren’t made at other consulates.” As of Wednesday morning, neither the U.S. State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security had issued a public response.
Minneapolis hosts an Ecuadorian consulate primarily to serve Ecuadorian nationals living in the Twin Cities and across the Upper Midwest. The office provides services including passport issuance, emergency travel documents and visa processing.
The incident comes amid a broader federal immigration enforcement effort in the region that has drawn increased public attention and legal scrutiny over operational tactics.
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