Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers attempted to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
In a video posted online, a person at the consulate is heard telling the agents, “This is the Ecuadorian consulate. You’re not allowed to enter.”
The brief but tense exchange occurs before the man shuts the door on the agents.
RELATED STORY | Federal agents placed on standard leave following fatal shooting of Alex Pretti
In a statement, Ecuador said the agents were “immediately prevented” from entering the building to ensure “the protection of Ecuadorians” who were inside.
Foreign consulates are typically off-limits to law enforcement without permission, which is why Ecuador issued a “note of protest” to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador to prevent future visits by ICE.
The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the incident.
RELATED STORY | DHS releases its timeline of events in fatal shooting of Alex Pretti
The encounter comes as thousands of immigration enforcement agents have been deployed to Minnesota as part of a large-scale crackdown. The administration has praised the effort, saying officers are apprehending violent criminals.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about aggressive enforcement tactics. In two recent cases, U.S. citizens were killed during encounters with federal officers.
