US Immigration Agents Foiled in Attempt to Enter Ecuadorian Embassy in Minneapolis
In a bizarre incident, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday, prompting the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador to file a formal complaint. The officer was met with resistance from the consulate staff, who refused to let him inside despite his attempts to intimidate them.
According to video footage shared online, the ICE agent could be seen trying to push past a staffer at the door, saying "relax" as he made his move. However, when informed that he was not allowed to enter, the agent responded by threatening to physically grab the staffer before backing down. The staffer had explained to the officer that the consulate was foreign government property.
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry condemned the ICE officer's actions, calling them an "attempted incursion" and demanding that such incidents be prevented in the future. In a statement, the ministry claimed that consulate officials immediately stopped the agent from entering the building, protecting the Ecuadorians present at the time. The Minister of Foreign Affairs then presented a note of protest to the US Embassy in Quito.
ICE officials have yet to comment on the incident, while the Department of Homeland Security has also remained silent at this point. The US Embassy in Quito did not respond to requests for comment from Salon.
This latest development highlights growing tensions between Ecuador and the United States over immigration issues, with many seeing such actions by ICE agents as an infringement on foreign governments' sovereignty. The incident raises questions about the limits of government authority and the need for clear communication channels to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a bizarre incident, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday, prompting the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador to file a formal complaint. The officer was met with resistance from the consulate staff, who refused to let him inside despite his attempts to intimidate them.
According to video footage shared online, the ICE agent could be seen trying to push past a staffer at the door, saying "relax" as he made his move. However, when informed that he was not allowed to enter, the agent responded by threatening to physically grab the staffer before backing down. The staffer had explained to the officer that the consulate was foreign government property.
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry condemned the ICE officer's actions, calling them an "attempted incursion" and demanding that such incidents be prevented in the future. In a statement, the ministry claimed that consulate officials immediately stopped the agent from entering the building, protecting the Ecuadorians present at the time. The Minister of Foreign Affairs then presented a note of protest to the US Embassy in Quito.
ICE officials have yet to comment on the incident, while the Department of Homeland Security has also remained silent at this point. The US Embassy in Quito did not respond to requests for comment from Salon.
This latest development highlights growing tensions between Ecuador and the United States over immigration issues, with many seeing such actions by ICE agents as an infringement on foreign governments' sovereignty. The incident raises questions about the limits of government authority and the need for clear communication channels to prevent similar incidents in the future.