The government of Ecuador has condemned what it described as an attempt by a US federal immigration agent to enter the Ecuadorean consulate in Minneapolis. The agent was prevented from gaining access by consular officials, who acted 'to guarantee the protection of the Ecuadoreans who were inside the consulate at the time', a statement from Ecuador's foreign ministry said.
Ecuador, whose president is an ally of Trump, has filed an official complaint. The incident comes at a time of high tension in the US city, just days after intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by border agents during protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement that an agent of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) had 'tried to enter the premises of the consulate' at 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday. Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular premises are considered 'inviolable'.
According to the Convention, the authorities of the country where the consulate is located 'shall not enter' the parts of the consulate used for work 'except with the consent of the head of the consular post'. Ecuador stated that its officials had not consented to ICE entering the consulate, emphasizing that such consent can only be assumed in emergencies requiring 'prompt protective action'.
In a video shared by Ecuadorean media, a consular official can be seen firmly denying entry to the ICE agent. In response to the firm stance from Ecuador, a letter of protest was swiftly issued to the US embassy in Quito, marking a rare note of discord between Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and the Trump administration despite recent efforts to strengthen their commercial relationship.
The incident reflects the rising tensions in Minneapolis surrounding immigration enforcement, especially after tragic shootings involving border agents, escalating protests, and ongoing debates over immigration policy in the US.
Ecuador, whose president is an ally of Trump, has filed an official complaint. The incident comes at a time of high tension in the US city, just days after intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by border agents during protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement that an agent of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) had 'tried to enter the premises of the consulate' at 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday. Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular premises are considered 'inviolable'.
According to the Convention, the authorities of the country where the consulate is located 'shall not enter' the parts of the consulate used for work 'except with the consent of the head of the consular post'. Ecuador stated that its officials had not consented to ICE entering the consulate, emphasizing that such consent can only be assumed in emergencies requiring 'prompt protective action'.
In a video shared by Ecuadorean media, a consular official can be seen firmly denying entry to the ICE agent. In response to the firm stance from Ecuador, a letter of protest was swiftly issued to the US embassy in Quito, marking a rare note of discord between Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and the Trump administration despite recent efforts to strengthen their commercial relationship.
The incident reflects the rising tensions in Minneapolis surrounding immigration enforcement, especially after tragic shootings involving border agents, escalating protests, and ongoing debates over immigration policy in the US.
