US Immigration Agents Foiled in Attempted Incursion on Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis
In a dramatic and alarming turn of events, US immigration agents were denied access to the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday, sparking concerns over the security of diplomatic missions. The incident, which has been described as an "attempted incursion," was met with swift action by consulate staff who activated emergency protocols to protect Ecuadorian nationals present at the time.
According to eyewitnesses, immigration agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pursued individuals who had entered the consulate building, only to be stopped by officials who prevented them from entering the premises. Videos circulating on social media show consulate staff firmly denying entry to the ICE agent and activating security measures to safeguard the Ecuadorian nationals.
The Ecuadorian government has taken a strong stance, labeling the incident as an "attempted incursion" and filing a formal protest with the US Embassy in Quito. The country's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the safety of its citizens and has called for assurances that similar actions will not occur in the future.
Under international law, consular offices are protected from unauthorized entry by host country authorities. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which the US has ratified, specifically bars law enforcement from entering areas of a functioning consulate without permission from the head of the consulate, except in emergencies such as a fire or other immediate danger.
The attempted incursion occurred amid a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis involving ICE and US Border Patrol agents, part of what has been described as "Operation Metro Surge." The operation has been overshadowed by increased tensions following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents. A meeting between Tom Homan, a Trump administration official, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was held to discuss the situation.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement confirming that consulate officials prevented the ICE officer from entering the building and ensured the safety of the Ecuadorian nationals present. Additional updates are expected to be published as soon as received from the ministry.
In a dramatic and alarming turn of events, US immigration agents were denied access to the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday, sparking concerns over the security of diplomatic missions. The incident, which has been described as an "attempted incursion," was met with swift action by consulate staff who activated emergency protocols to protect Ecuadorian nationals present at the time.
According to eyewitnesses, immigration agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pursued individuals who had entered the consulate building, only to be stopped by officials who prevented them from entering the premises. Videos circulating on social media show consulate staff firmly denying entry to the ICE agent and activating security measures to safeguard the Ecuadorian nationals.
The Ecuadorian government has taken a strong stance, labeling the incident as an "attempted incursion" and filing a formal protest with the US Embassy in Quito. The country's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the safety of its citizens and has called for assurances that similar actions will not occur in the future.
Under international law, consular offices are protected from unauthorized entry by host country authorities. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which the US has ratified, specifically bars law enforcement from entering areas of a functioning consulate without permission from the head of the consulate, except in emergencies such as a fire or other immediate danger.
The attempted incursion occurred amid a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis involving ICE and US Border Patrol agents, part of what has been described as "Operation Metro Surge." The operation has been overshadowed by increased tensions following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents. A meeting between Tom Homan, a Trump administration official, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was held to discuss the situation.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement confirming that consulate officials prevented the ICE officer from entering the building and ensured the safety of the Ecuadorian nationals present. Additional updates are expected to be published as soon as received from the ministry.
. I mean, can you imagine if this was happening in a major city like London or Paris? It's just not right that diplomatic missions get invaded like this. The idea of consulate staff taking charge and stopping ICE agents from entering is super cool 
. It shows they're not afraid to stand up for themselves and their country. And the fact that Ecuador has filed a formal protest with the US Embassy in Quito is totally justified 
. This whole "Operation Metro Surge" thing sounds like some serious overreach by the US government, if you ask me 
. They need to be held accountable for this kind of behavior. I'm all about keeping diplomatic missions safe and secure, but not at the expense of their sovereignty 
.
! Can't believe those ICE agents were trying to just barge in like that 
. What's going on with all these federal immigration ops? Everyone needs to chill out and work together instead of causing drama 
. Ecuador should get some solid answers from the US government about this, 'cause it's not okay 
.
this is just crazy, i mean i know us immigration policies can be super shady but come on trying to incroach on an ecuadorian consulate in minneapolis? that's like, a whole different level of crazy 
. and for them to do it during "operation metro surge" when there's already a lot of tension going around... it just feels like an excuse for people to be all aggressive 
. the ecuadorians were right to activate emergency protocols and protect themselves, that's what they're supposed to do in situations like this 
. i'm just hoping no one got hurt on either side 
that's some serious overreach right there. gotta respect consulate staff for standing firm and prioritizing the safety of those diplomats and citizens. 
. I mean, can't they see that consulates are supposed to be off-limits? It's not exactly rocket science 
. Operation Metro Surge might be all about cracking down on immigration, but it seems like some folks are more interested in making headlines than doing their jobs properly 
.
This whole thing is super concerning, you know? Like, what's the point of having consular relations if some agents can just show up at the consulate without permission? 
It's not like we're asking for special treatment or anything. We're just trying to protect our people and maintain good relations with other countries. 
how did the consulate staff even figure out what was going on so quickly? 
it's always good to know that there are people looking out for each other, but at the same time, this whole thing feels like a bit of a mess... 
. I mean, what's next? Them showing up at the Chinese embassy in LA unannounced? 
That'd be just great. And can we talk about how these operations are always overshadowed by all these other drama-filled events? Like, Operation Metro Surge sounds like some serious BS to me... who gets hurt in these sweeps again 
and didn't anyone think about the Ecuadorian nationals who were there? poor guys 
anyway i guess it's good that the consulate staff knew how to handle it but still this is so sketchy 
. we need better oversight of our immigration agencies, thats for sure 
Yeah, they should be. This kind of thing can get diplomatic relations between countries really messy, fast. 
I'm glad consulate staff were able to take action and protect those nationals - sometimes you have to stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the authorities. 
, why do they even try to breach consulates? 
think of the Ecuadorian nationals who had to live through this 
. ICE needs better training on de-escalation techniques 
.
tom homan should be ashamed of himself for even suggestin that this was okay 
i hope something gets done about it 4 real tho 