Ecuador's government has issued a strong condemnation regarding an incident in which a U.S. federal immigration agent allegedly attempted to access its consulate in Minneapolis. Consular officials prevented the agent from entering, citing the need to protect Ecuadorean nationals present within the consulate. This situation emerged amidst rising tensions related to immigration enforcement in the area, which has included recent violent incidents, such as the shooting death of a nurse during protests concerning the Trump administration's immigration policies.

The incident reportedly took place around 11:00 AM local time, and Ecuador's foreign ministry quickly reacted by issuing a statement asserting the inviolability of consular premises under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which prohibits foreign authorities from entering consulates without permission from the consular head. Ecuador's response included delivering a letter of protest to the U.S. embassy in Quito, marking one of the few points of disagreement between Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and the U.S. administration.

This clash highlights ongoing diplomatic sensitivities between the two nations, especially given recent commitments to strengthen commercial relations. However, as immigration enforcement intensifies in Minneapolis, the balance has shifted towards heightened scrutiny and tension.