Ecuador Condemns ICE Attempt To Enter Minneapolis Consulate
Ecuador's foreign ministry said an ICE agent tried to enter its Minneapolis consulate at 11:00 a.m. local time (17:00 GMT).
Overview
Ecuador's foreign ministry said an ICE agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis at 11:00 a.m. local time (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday and was prevented from entering by consular officials.
The attempted entry occurred amid protests after the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti and the earlier death of Renee Good, incidents marked by conflicting accounts between federal officials and video evidence, according to media reports.
Ecuador immediately sent a note of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Quito demanding that such incidents "not be repeated," the foreign ministry said.
Video shared by Ecuadorean media showed at least two ICE agents attempting entry and a consular official blocking access, and the ministry cited the Vienna Convention prohibiting unauthorized entry to consular premises except in narrow emergencies.
Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne said he spoke with Ecuador's ambassador, who suggested ICE may have mistakenly tried to enter, and Payne said the episode risks escalating diplomatic tensions as protests and scrutiny of ICE continue.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the incident as a diplomatic breach framed through Ecuador's condemnation and legal context. They use neutral legal language (Vienna Convention) while emphasizing local tensions (recent deadly shootings) and rely on Ecuadorian statements and video without an ICE response, subtly prioritizing the consulate's perspective over U.S. agency input.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Protests erupted after ICE agent killed Renée Good on January 7, 2026, and Border Patrol agents killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, on January 24, 2026, amid Operation Metro Surge, with video evidence contradicting federal self-defense claims.
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. local time, an ICE agent tried to enter the consulate but was blocked by officials; Ecuador protested to the US Embassy citing Vienna Convention violations.
Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne spoke with Ecuador's ambassador, who suggested it was a possible mistake by ICE, and noted risks of escalating diplomatic tensions amid ongoing protests.
Operation Metro Surge involves a surge of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, with five times as many federal agents as local police, sparking resident resistance via Signal groups and street protests.
History
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