U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were rebuffed Tuesday after attempting to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis without authorization, an incident that has triggered a formal diplomatic protest and raised serious legal questions under international law.
Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a note of protest has been filed with the U.S. Embassy, objecting to the conduct of the ICE officers and warning against any future attempts to access Ecuadorian diplomatic premises without consent.
Under international law, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, host-country law enforcement officials are prohibited from entering foreign consulates without permission, except in narrowly defined emergencies such as fires or immediate threats to life.
Video footage circulating on social media shows a consulate staff member rushing to the door to stop the agents, telling them clearly: “This is the Ecuadorian consulate. You’re not allowed to enter.” One ICE officer is heard responding by threatening to “grab” the staffer if he made physical contact, before the agents ultimately withdrew.
In a statement posted on X, Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility said consulate officials acted swiftly to protect Ecuadorian nationals inside the building and activated emergency protocols. The ministry said the diplomatic protest was intended to ensure similar incidents do not occur at other Ecuadorian consulates in the United States.
The U.S. State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Incident unfolds amid heightened immigration tensions
The consulate episode comes amid intensified immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, during an encounter with federal immigration officers earlier this month.
According to a notification sent to Congress and obtained by the Associated Press, two federal officers fired their weapons during a struggle with Pretti after officers attempted to take him into custody. A Border Patrol agent reportedly shouted, “He’s got a gun!” before shots were fired. Both a Border Patrol officer and a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer discharged Glock pistols, the notice said.
Federal law requires CBP to notify congressional committees within 72 hours of any death in its custody. The agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the initial analysis based on body-worn camera footage and internal documentation.
President Donald Trump has since ordered border enforcement czar Tom Homan to take over immigration operations in Minnesota, describing the move as an effort to “de-escalate” tensions. Trump has also said a “big investigation” is underway into Pretti’s killing.
Courts push back on enforcement actions
Federal courts have also stepped in as legal challenges mount. A U.S. judge in Texas issued a temporary order blocking the removal of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father, who were detained in Minnesota, while their case proceeds. In another case, a federal judge in Minnesota ordered the acting director of ICE to personally appear in court, citing what he described as extraordinary violations of court orders related to immigration detentions.
Ecuadorian officials have not publicly linked the consulate incident to specific enforcement actions, but legal experts say the attempted entry underscores growing concerns about the scope and conduct of U.S. immigration operations, particularly where diplomatic protections and judicial oversight are involved.
As investigations continue, the Minneapolis consulate incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of ICE’s operational boundaries and the United States’ obligations under international diplomatic law.
