An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent attempted to enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday but was stopped by consular staff, prompting Ecuador to file a formal complaint with the United States embassy in Quito, according to the country’s foreign ministry. The incident occurred amid an intensified federal operation in Minneapolis targeting people suspected of being in the country unlawfully, an operation that has drawn heightened scrutiny following the deaths of two US citizens during enforcement actions.

In a statement, Ecuador’s foreign ministry said the consul reported that the ICE agent attempted to enter the consulate at around 11:00 a.m. and was immediately denied access by staff to protect Ecuadorian nationals present inside the building. The foreign minister subsequently submitted a note of protest to the US embassy, requesting assurances that similar incidents would not occur at Ecuadorian diplomatic facilities elsewhere in the United States. Video footage verified by Reuters showed a consulate employee telling the agent that entry was not permitted, after which the agent left the premises.

The US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised the attempted entry as a violation of diplomatic norms and international protocol, warning that unauthorised access to foreign diplomatic facilities could set a precedent with implications for the safety of US diplomats and personnel abroad.