Domain changed to archive.palanq.win . Feb 14-25 still awaits import.
[11 / 1 / 1]

Nation of Ecuador says ICE tried to raid its mini-embassy

No.1484987 View ViewReplyOriginalReport
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g40k40xndo
The government of Ecuador has condemned what it described as an attempt by a US federal immigration agent to enter the Ecuadorean consulate in Minneapolis.

The agent was prevented from gaining access by consular officials, who acted "to guarantee the protection of the Ecuadoreans who were inside the consulate at the time", a statement by Ecuador's foreign ministry said.

Ecuador, whose president is an ally of Trump, has filed an official complaint.

The incident comes at a time of high tension in the US city, just days after intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by border agents during protests against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement that an agent of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) had "tried to enter the premises of the consulate" at 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular premises are considered "inviolable".

According to the Convention, the authorities of the country where the consulate is located "shall not enter" the parts of the consulate used for work "except with the consent of the head of the consular post".

Ecuador said that its officials had not consented to ICE entering the consulate.

While the Vienna Convention goes on to say that consent may be assumed in certain cases, they are limited to incidents where "prompt protective action" is required, such as in the case of a fire or some other disaster.

In a video shared by Ecuadorean media, which has not been independently verified by the BBC, a consular official can be seen rushing to the entrance door and telling an ICE agent "this is the consulate, you're not allowed in here".

The agent tells the official that "if you touch me, I will grab you".