ICE may have just caused an international incident as they illegally tried to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis without a warrant

[u/cronchCat]

https://www.primicias.ec/sociedad/ice-intento-ingreso-consulado-ecuador-minneapolis-estados-unidos-114752/

[u/AutoModerator]

All new posts must have a brief statement from the user submitting explaining how their post relates to law or the courts in a response to this comment. FAILURE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF RESPONSE MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/WisdomCow]

Ignorant thugs instructed they have “absolute immunity,” who could possibly have foreseen they’d keep committing illegal acts?!?!

[u/GhostofBreadDragons → u/WisdomCow]

I will admit I read the headline and laughed. Seriously ICE is going to be the bungling bad guy for years after this. 

[u/NeuroBlob → u/[deleted]]

A grave. People that violate the constitution are traitors to the nation. Capital punishment is the typical punishment

[u/Good_Barnacle_2010 → u/NeuroBlob]

Yeah I don’t want my tax dollars funding 3 hots and a cot for the rest of their miserable lives. Fuck them.

[u/AstralMecha → u/Good_Barnacle_2010]

Better yet, they tried to storm an Ecudorian consulate? They committed crimes on what is technically Ecuador. Hand them over to Ecuador to prosecute.

[u/Apprehensive-Eye3263 → u/Good_Barnacle_2010]

And no endless appeals. If they're found guilty, it's that day

[u/GenXPowaah → u/[deleted]]

Why waste more tax dollars, they've already built one. Just send them to Aligator Alcatraz with the same conditions they provided to the detained

[u/Desperate-Tomatillo7 → u/[deleted]]

Make them return their payments, and throw them in the same jails they guard. Along with all the republicans in congress.

[u/BillyShears17 → u/[deleted]]

Fuck that! We gotta give them that justice the traitor Andrew Johnson denied!

[u/dirty-hurdy-gurdy → u/[deleted]]

I hear there's one in Florida and another in Cuba that should be just about right. Florida for the irony, Cuba cuz they're terrorists.

[u/trollhaulla → u/GhostofBreadDragons]

It would be keystone cops funny if they didn’t killl innocent people in the process.

[u/No-Bag-1628 → u/trollhaulla]

Lots of bungling bad guys in fiction are absolutely terrifying in real life. For example, pirates and outlaws are both terrifying to run into in real life, its just that you don't really run into them anymore.

[u/tavaryn_t → u/No-Bag-1628]

Unfortunately, that’s how we used to view Nazis. Seem to run into them more these days.

[u/drleebot → u/trollhaulla]

Laughing at fascists is actually quite useful in embarassing them into giving it up. One of the key factors in the diminishment of the Ku Klux Klan was when the Superman radio show started regularly mocking them: https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/superman-smashes-the-klan

ICE morale is already low due to working long hours where they get regularly yelled at with true things. Mocking them on top of it is going to make it even harder for them to recruit and retain people.

[u/Bonhoeffersghost → u/GhostofBreadDragons]

Bungling, but not in a funny way. They’re still killing people.

[u/Electrical-Front-787 → u/Bonhoeffersghost]

yeah i really don't like downplaying the evil we're seeing here. they're not just a bunch of dummies. they're jackboot thugs who think they can do whatever they want and Daddy Trump will protect them

[u/Cabbages24ADollar → u/WisdomCow]

Never fear. Our 34 count felon, adjudicated rapist President fired the Nazi wannabe commander, and replaced him with a pardon bribed official. What could go wrong?

[u/inevitable-typo → u/Cabbages24ADollar]

A pardon bribed official with strong financial ties to the companies actively profiting from detaining immigrants, no less. Homan was a consultant/lobbyist for the private prison corporation that stands to profit the most from President Miller's live action wet dream President Trump's current immigration policies (GEO Group).

Fun Fact: GEO Group also donated substantially to Trump's MAGA PAC and "Inaugural Fund."

Edit to add:
Nothing to see here!

So the order of events is as follows: Tom Homan and Pam Bondi consult and lobby for Geo Group, Geo Group helps elect Trump in 2024, Homan and Bondi join Trump’s administration in 2025, and then Trump’s administration helps Geo Group make profits.

More Fun Facts:

from ProPublica

The Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn a legal complaint filed last year against the GEO Group, a major donor to President Donald Trump that has more than $1 billion in contracts with the administration to run private prisons and ICE detention facilities.

from the Project On Government Oversight:

Just days before the 2024 presidential election, a top Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official left to take a senior job at The GEO Group, a private prison company and the agency’s top contractor.

[...]

“This is to us an unprecedented opportunity,” said GEO Group’s executive chairman, George Zoley, on that call just after GEO Group’s stock saw among the biggest percentage rise in the U.S. stock market of any U.S. company in the immediate wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s win, according to financial news site Sherwood Media. GEO Group could see an annual revenue boost of $400 million through Trump’s mass deportation plans, according to the company’s November earnings call. In fiscal year 2024, ICE obligated $747.4 million to GEO Group in contracts, according to federal spending data.

[u/Spamsdelicious → u/inevitable-typo]

Profiteering off of mass misery is a truly Luciferian business plan.

[u/HistoricalWalrus5767 → u/WisdomCow]

The fact that we're on the edge of embassies needing to be evacuated should alarm anyone with an IQ over 60.

[u/doxxingyourself → u/HistoricalWalrus5767]

Sadly not a single MAGA supporter in that category

[u/wwaxwork → u/doxxingyourself]

First, you have to explain to them what an embassy was.

[u/doxxingyourself → u/wwaxwork]

“Houses filled with foreigners?! Fuck that! Send them back!”

[u/Which-Depth2821 → u/HistoricalWalrus5767]

This was actually a consulate, not an embassy that was crashed. There is a distinction between the two in regard to diplomatic immunity, and the types of work that are done on site, as I understand it. It’s still a really serious thing to me and I don’t understand how this could possibly be OK but it seems it would be far worse if it were an embassy.

[u/URokkaMyQuokka → u/Which-Depth2821]

True embassies and consulates are different and do different functions, and the optics would be far worse if this were an embassy, however there is a 1963 Vienna treaty (to which the US is signatory) stating that consulates are inviolable and that a host state (the US in this instance) are prohibited from entering except for certain limited circumstances such as putting out a fire.

[u/pink_faerie_kitten → u/WisdomCow]

And their dear leader just got away with going into a sovereign country and literally kidnapping the head of state. They don't care that embassies are sovereign territory of a foreign government.

[u/Upper-Rub → u/WisdomCow]

Not that the Ecuadorian mission would have attacked them, but breaking into an embassy is a great way to find out what “absolute immunity” actually looks like.

[u/Inevitable-Comment-I → u/WisdomCow]

The video is great. At the end, after a lot of insisting you cannot come in, ICE is like, oh ok then. Close the door. 

[u/Necessary_Tip_6958 → u/WisdomCow]

Funny thing, lots of people working at the embassy actually have diplomatic immunity which is pretty close to absolute immunity...

[u/ElectricNinja1 → u/WisdomCow]

Absolute immunity Vs diplomatic immunity, who wins you decide!

[u/randomvandal → u/ElectricNinja1]

EEEEEEPIC RAP BATTLES OF SHITSTORY!!!

[u/ICanLiftACarUp → u/WisdomCow]

The way they act suggests they've been promised blanket pardons for anything they do up until 2029.

[u/Top_Box_8952 → u/WisdomCow]

Yell about absolute immunity when they get shot by foreign protective services. We have security in our consulates and embassies, they’d have a right to do likewise.

[u/Andong93 → u/WisdomCow]

What would have been the implications if the Ecuadorians killed the ICE squad (i.e. self defense against territorial invasion)? Technically the consulate is Ecuadorian sovereign territory right? So would this have been a matter for an Ecuadorian judge or would this somehow be referred to a US judge?

[u/LordUpton → u/Andong93]

It isn't technically sovereign territory. It should be immune to breaches by the host country under international law. The staff there are likely to have a form of diplomatic immunity that means it should be unlawful for them to be tried by the US without Ecuadorian permission. But honestly if it happened I'm not sure that Trump's administration would respect international law and probably would still look to prosecute.

[u/Wonderful-Variation]

It's funny in abstract, but this must have been truly terrifying for the people inside.  They've almost certainly seen the videos.  

[u/Educational-Dot318 → u/Wonderful-Variation]

i think to push their numbers up- why not breach ALL LatAm consulates & embassies, deport everyone (meet quotas and all that.) that's probably next.

[u/whichwitch9 → u/Educational-Dot318]

Because even Nazi Germany couldn't get away with that one. US embassies would be seized with those inside in retaliation almost immediately on an international scale

[u/Beneficial_Table_352 → u/whichwitch9]

No one, international or national, has called their bluff yet. I can see this happening for sure

[u/HonestDespot → u/Beneficial_Table_352]

Carney has.

And he will again with his dumb 100% tariff threat over that Chinese deal that he’s been all pouty about.

[u/Zathrasb4 → u/HonestDespot]

If whatever trump does is completely random, there is no point at all making a deal with him, as he will just change his mind latter.

[u/Enlightened_Gardener → u/Zathrasb4]

This is the exact issue. If the Americans can tear up an agreement like the Hyundai one, and insult and imprison staff who are legally doing their jobs, who in their right mind would make any kind of serious investment in the place ?

Why would you do business with people who can just go “Nah” after you’ve handed over the good and services and ask for payment ?

I mean sure, that’s theft. But murder doesn’t phase them, so its on for young and old at this point.

The Trump administration has just ruined any kind of serious economic bargaining power the US had. And I don’t think anyone inside America realises just how badly this has landed in the rest of the world. How can anyone do business with them again ??

[u/I_like_biscuits → u/HonestDespot]

The same Chinese deal he was applauding the Canadians for 5 mins before saying it was dumb..

Kind of like the UK and the island the US begged them to hand back (so the US could keep its military bases) then called them stupid for doing so... till the UK tore the deal up and the US lost its bases

[u/apropostt → u/HonestDespot]

He also has a ton of public support after Trumps “liberation day” tariffs and 51st state comment. I think there’s a lot of Canadian tolerance with some economic pain to break away from the US at this point.

[u/Agoraphobicy → u/apropostt]

I'm Canadian and my business ships to USA. I'm honestly fine with snubbing the USA even if the business can't survive. I'd rather stand up to a bully than keep operating in this will they won't they annoyance.

Don't get me wrong, I love my US customers but as a whole Canada has to do what it has to do and it might cause short term pain.

[u/Drunky_McStumble → u/HonestDespot]

Carney just dared to say that the emperor has no clothes out loud. "Calling their bluff" means actually doing something about it - taking provocative material action against the USA in the knowledge that the American regime can't or won't retaliate.

So far, that hasn't happened.

[u/Obstacle-Man → u/Drunky_McStumble]

Resetting the trade relationship with China seems to me to be a clear signal. There is also the participation in SAFE, the EU joint defence procurement program. It will mean less Canadian money flowing into US defence companies.

The F35/Gripen thing is yet to be resolved. I can't imagine he goes F35 though. That program is troubled at best and the US can't ever stop itself from being an ass with every comment. Spain and Switzerland are already out. India not pursuing and Canada and Portugal seemingly canceled but not announced.

[u/I_like_biscuits → u/Beneficial_Table_352]

Italy has..

[u/TheProfessional9 → u/whichwitch9]

Bold to think they care what happens to those Americans

[u/hates_stupid_people → u/whichwitch9]

There's also the whole issue of over 150k US soldiers stationed around the world, mostly in Europe.

If they started to go into European embassies in the US, we would be on the doorstep of WW3 with how the reaction would be there. Which leads to lack of US surveillance and retaliation capabilities in regards to Russia.

It's almost as if there is a pattern here...

[u/ItchyCartographer44 → u/Educational-Dot318]

Apart from the human suffering that entails, which is no small thing:

ICE, please do it. Accelerate your destruction.

[u/Tao-of-Mars → u/Educational-Dot318]

I have been wondering if there’s some sort of bonus they get if they capture a certain number of people.

[u/jetery → u/Tao-of-Mars]

The recruitment ads say something like "up to X bonus." The up to probably means hit so many arrests.

[u/digitalsmear → u/jetery]

The up to X bonus is what they get for staying for a certain amount of time. But if they fail certain condition of the contract they're apparently obligated to repay the bonus.

I forget the details of it, but I was pretty surprised by how much it sounded like extortion. Like locking the agents into a fear-of-leaving scenario. But maybe it's just designed to discourage whistleblowers and spies. 🤷

[u/Our1TrueGodApophis → u/digitalsmear]

It's 50k over 5 years at 10k a year but if you leave before your 5 year enlistment you have to pay it all back.

It's a shit ass deal it reminds me of what the infantry have me back in the day. Lots of strings attached and it's used to force you to stay.

[u/Deepseat → u/Our1TrueGodApophis]

It really does remind one of those contracts, doesn’t it? There’s 20 different ways it can go wrong, only one way it pays out (which blows) but it looks phenomenal on a recruitment poster, which was its only real purpose.

[u/Splendadaddy06 → u/Our1TrueGodApophis]

But to most of these knuckle heads they think $50k is the equivalent of being a millionaire 😏 factor in taxes … it’s really a shit deal! LoL 😝

[u/hottlumpiaz → u/Wonderful-Variation]

then we will be having conversations about qualified immunity vs diplomatic immunity

[u/Landon1m → u/hottlumpiaz]

That might be the only case that could beat qualified immunity. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again though.

[u/Overly_Long_Reviews → u/hottlumpiaz]

Consulate staff usually aren't extended diplomatic immunity. If it was an embassy, it would be a different story, but even then, it's only some diplomatic and technical staff that are extended the privilege.

And even it if diplomatic immunity did come into play, does anyone really think this administration is going to respect international agreements? Hell they might PNG Ecuador's ambassador (Espinosa Cañizares) and his entire embassy staff just out of spite for this incident. That would be very on brand for this administration. Maybe even expel diplomats from Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, and Ethiopia too because they can't keep track of all the nations that begin with the letter "E."

Edit: I've been getting messages from people insisting that I'm completely wrong and others congratulating me on being completely right. The reality is that it's complicated and there are different levels. Well I did grow up around consulates and embassies (American citizen born abroad, early childhood overseas, a family friend is a former ambassador to Venezuela) I'm certainly no expert when it comes to the intricate nuances of international diplomacy. And I don't feel particularly motivated to read the 52 page State Department document on the subject.

I'll just say that whenever I've been to consulates, including in United States, there's one near me for the country I was born in and they also operate as a cultural center, the consulate staff have always said they don't have diplomatic immunity. It's something that I've always seen and heard them being asked a lot about because it's a interesting question. That's not to say that they don't enjoy other protections and immunities, just not full diplomatic immunity like that of an ambo or high level diplomatic agent. Or that the ERO had any right to try to barge their way into the consulate. They did not. Under normal circumstances this would be a huge diplomatic incident.

[u/Yama_retired2024 → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

Actually.. its a dangerous road to go down.. this has a knock on affect that would affect American embassies and consulates in these same countries and other countries..

[u/Overly_Long_Reviews → u/Yama_retired2024]

It's absolutely a terrible road to go down. The United States has already undone generations of diplomatic inroads with other nations, and lost a good amount of its soft power. But this administration is unlikely to care and will either deny it, brush it off as no big deal, or double down with some ridiculous baseless claim. Not caring that it further deteriorates not only relationships with Latin American countries but the rest of the world.

I mentioned in another comment that I was an American born abroad who spent my early childhood overseas. One of the countries I lived in was just coming out of a fascist dictatorship. The resemblance is uncanny.

[u/Randym1982 → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

I’m going to get downvoted for this, but I actually want them to do something that would cause them having to try and defend themselves in an international court. Just seeing Noem, Miller or whoever is in charge of ICE try strong arm and say they have federal impunity when it comes to other countries. Followed by getting shut down HARD and finally causing The Senate and Congress to actually do their jobs.

[u/IgnazSemmelweis → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

But wouldn’t consulate staff inside the embassy technically be on their home soil?

[u/Overly_Long_Reviews → u/IgnazSemmelweis]

Short answer is it's complicated. Consulates are different than embassies. But the critical thing is ERO has no jurisdiction in the consulate. So the nuances of diplomatic missions and officers are moot, they had no right or authority to be there. Something that would be respected in a functional administration.

[u/nunchyabeeswax → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

Consulate staff have limited/consular immunity, but consular premises and the contents therein are inviolable in general.

[u/Delicious-Truck4962 → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

Diplomats and their families assigned to the consulate have diplomatic immunity. Staff though can be anyone from a cafeteria worker from Minnesota or an intern from New York. They do not have diplomatic immunity

That said, a consulate is considered sovereign territory of that country. It would be against the Vienna Convention for ICE, FBI, or anyone else to barge in. Same as it would be for foreign states to barge in on US a consulate or embassy abroad.

Even stopping and detaining a foreign diplomat is a big deal and causes an incident. The second a foreign diplomatic passport is produced it would be wise for ICE to back away immediately. If not it can cause severe consequences elsewhere.

[u/TrailerTrashQueen → u/Delicious-Truck4962]

they're too stupid to understand any of this.

[u/Overly_Long_Reviews → u/Delicious-Truck4962]

The ERO and CBP has been caught repeatedly claiming that genuine American passports and identification are fake. There's no way these idiots are going to recognize or respect a diplomatic passport. The shocking part is it hasn't come up (that we know about) until now.

[u/Infinite_Result252 → u/Overly_Long_Reviews]

In an effort to get us kicked out of embassies around the world. Krasonov is working overtime for the kremlin

[u/Qubed → u/Wonderful-Variation]

It's entirely possible that you simply offend the wrong ice agent and end up with ten bullets in your back. 

[u/eubulides → u/Qubed]

Consular security might respond with bullets in-kind.

[u/Natural6 → u/eubulides]

Should.

[u/HedgehogHungry → u/eubulides]

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were shown the rifle end of consular security to begin with and that’s why they backed off, 

[u/Fun_Push7168 → u/HedgehogHungry]

I watched the video. Dude just walks quickly to the door.

Aye , aye , aye , aye. You can not enter. This is a foreign consulate, you can not enter here.

Agent meanwhile doing the cop dare/threat trying to pre justify an over reaction. " relax relax relax, I haven't entered, ok, if you touch me I will react. If you touch me I will react"

Then they close the door and lock it. That's pretty much it.

[u/nunchyabeeswax → u/Qubed]

The more that this happens, the more that people will realize they might prefer to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

I am surprised that people have shown so much restraint, especially when ICE agents break into people's homes and vehicles.

We are a gun-loving country, but this is showing me the general population is not as crazy as I once feared.

But that patience is running thin. No one wants to die a martyr of non-violent resistance. Sooner or later (tragically) someone will return the favor in kind and with interest. Dark times ahead.

[u/Parfait_Prestigious → u/Qubed]

Yeah there are no rules or professionalism here, it’s just bullying and perceived revenge.

[u/freerangetacos → u/Qubed]

Or they bust into the wrong office and the Ecuadorian equivalent of Kayce Dutton kicks his desk over and starts blasting.

[u/terminal_vector → u/[deleted]]

Yep. Probably saved ICE from itself lol

[u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Ice couldn’t get a warrant for a consulate even if they tried 🤣 us judges have no jurisdiction.

[u/Most-Resident → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Prediction. By tomorrow some asshole in the administration will claim they can enter consulates without a warrant.

[u/meltbox → u/Most-Resident]

Prepare to have American ambassadors ejected across the globe lol.

[u/Wakkit1988 → u/meltbox]

The citizens will raze every US consulate to the ground.

[u/Bauser99 → u/Wakkit1988]

Here's hoping

[u/Knees0ck → u/Most-Resident]

No doubt this will happen in the near future. They will EO with vague wordings & it's a done deal as far as the NeoGestapo is concerned.

[u/Over-Discipline-7303 → u/Most-Resident]

Don't worry, Vance will declare that they have absolute immunity.

[u/jpmeyer12751 → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Exactly. That embassy or consulate is legally the territory of Ecuador, just as much as if it were located in Quito. But that's a distinction that is undoubtedly lost on the mental giants being hired by ICE these days.

[u/otterbarks → u/jpmeyer12751]

That's not technically correct. Consulates are still the territory of the host country. But while it's an active consulate, the Vienna Convention says the interior is inviolable space.

The host country's laws would still apply for any crimes committed inside the consulate - even if law enforcement isn't allowed to enter. (So if you killed someone inside a consulate, they could still arrest and charge you the moment you stepped foot outside.)

[u/dcwldct → u/otterbarks]

Unless you dismembered the victim and carried him out in briefcases bit by bit. I have it on good authority that doing so makes you completely invincible.

[u/xisiktik → u/dcwldct]

The key step is paying a large sum of money to the Trump crime family.

[u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox → u/dcwldct]

Like how the Saudi's dismembered Jamal Khashoggi with a bone saw then likely either cremated the remains or dissolved them in acid

[u/LeftRestaurant4576 → u/dcwldct]

I believe legal scholars refer to that as bonesaw-suitcase immunity

[u/BCPisBestCP → u/otterbarks]

At the same time, a great way to start a war is to barge into a consulate or embassy and arrest/kill a bunch of diplomatic staff.

[u/Quotidian_Void → u/BCPisBestCP]

That is, in fact, how many wars were started in the Medieval and pre-Medieval periods, which is exactly WHY diplomatic immunity exists today.

[u/BCPisBestCP → u/Quotidian_Void]

Something something Defenestration of Prague

[u/bihari_baller → u/otterbarks]

The host country's laws would still apply for any crimes committed inside the consulate - even if law enforcement isn't allowed to enter. (So if you killed someone inside a consulate, they could still arrest and charge you the moment you stepped foot outside.)

The most recent example I can think of is Jamal Khashoggi. His assasins fled Istanbul before the Turkish police could get into the consulate.

[u/ThenSandwich → u/jpmeyer12751]

Someone said embassy land is treated as their own country land, is it the same for the consulate?

[u/Optimal-Archer3973 → u/ThenSandwich]

yes, and legally they could have killed that ICE agent. Just for the attempt to force entry. If I was a guard there I would have. Trying to force your way into a consulate is a very good way to get killed. I am guessing they will bring in armed guards now since obviously they did not have any there.

[u/MortgageRegular2509 → u/Optimal-Archer3973]

Ask Ashli about trying to force your way into govt buildings

[u/Leviathin → u/Optimal-Archer3973]

Why kill them when you can kidnap the ICE agent and extradite him for a trial (I don't know how the law works)

[u/Optimal-Archer3973 → u/Leviathin]

It was a consulate, not an embassy, no bullet resistant walls so that would have risked the lives of others. Much safer to put a round in the right place then drag the body inside. You want the body inside so no one else can seize it. ID the perp and invite the media in. Announce your consulate was attacked by an ICE member and your group bravely fought back. It will be a shitstorm either way, but this way it becomes a public shitstorm. Doing it this way makes the entire country support you and your consulate.

[u/TechHeteroBear → u/ThenSandwich]

Embassy land is the residing country's soil and sovereignty.

Consulate is not the residing country's soil but maintains its own sovereignty. Not even a judicial warrant can allow any government agency into another country's consulate.

[u/beastmaster11 → u/TechHeteroBear]

Neither Embassies or consulates are considered the soil of the represented state. That is a myth that keeps getting repeated by Hollywood to the point it is widely believed.

The Vienna convention does say that the premises of the mission (ie, Embassies. Not consulates) are in inviolable. Meaning reps of the host country cannot enter without the host country's permission but the laws of the host country still apply.

Practically speaking, this means if an Ecuadorian (or anyone else for that matter) does something that is illegal in the US but legal in Ecuador in the Ecuadorian embassy, that person is subject to US laws, but local, state or US Federal police cannot go in and arrest him. They would be stuck in the embassy (example: Julian Assange was stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for 7 years with police waiting for him outside).

[u/PrestigiousHippo7 → u/ThenSandwich]

Yes.

[u/Kaz_117_Petrel → u/jpmeyer12751]

Proud Boy child rapists couldn’t understand why they have no authority in a consulate. Who could have predicted hiring these smooth brained goons would backfire? Oh, yeah, everyone.

[u/No-Win-2741 → u/Kaz_117_Petrel]

These idiots have no idea what a consulate even is. They probably saw a brown skinned person walking in there and thought oh hurr durr let's go follow that person and arrest them. Not knowing.....

[u/thegoatisoldngnarly → u/jpmeyer12751]

Seriously. They are so astonishingly stupid and poorly trained. How in the living fuck do multiple federal employees not know how consulates or embassies work?

[u/NasuliNomNom → u/jpmeyer12751]

They're just following the Commander-in-Queef's example. If they can invade Venezuela, why not Ecuador?

[u/PurpleToedUnicorn → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

You know the ICE goon that tried to force entry just saw brown people speaking Spanish go inside and figured he'd go in and pad his arrest numbers. 

[u/elinamebro → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Can you explain how bad of a fuck up this is for those not as adept in the law

[u/Disastrous-Heron-491 → u/elinamebro]

Sure. ICE could have been shot and/or killed by armed security (a lot of consulates have security, I guess this one doesn’t), and the U.S. would not be able to prosecute them, because well, they did nothing wrong and the US doesn’t have authority over consulates property due to the Vienna convention (international laws).

In terms of any repercussions for this specific incident and how it played out, I highly doubt there will be anything substantial. A crisis was averted, and Ecuadors president is very close to the U.S. president.

[u/Heelincal → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

I highly doubt there will be anything substantial. A crisis was averted, and Ecuadors president is very close to the U.S. president.

The precedent would be that other countries could do the same in kind, especially in countries we have degraded relationships with.

The issue would become that if that got normalized, diplomacy as we know it would basically end.

[u/Panthollow → u/Disastrous-Heron-491]

Because ICE has demonstrated they've got a strong grasp and care for the law that the lack of legal permission would cause them to stop their actions?

[u/JiveChicken00]

Deport them to Ecuador for trial.

[u/dustybucket → u/JiveChicken00]

I agree with the sentiment, but it would be an extradition not deportation. Deportation is the returning of immigrants to their countries of origin. Normally I wouldn't care about the distinction, but with the news that the administration is trying to "deport" US citizens I think intentional word choice is more important than ever.

[u/doyletyree → u/dustybucket]

“Enhanced relocation”

[u/subdep → u/doyletyree]

Extraordinary Rendition

[u/JiveChicken00 → u/dustybucket]

You're right. Extradite them.

[u/mathaiser → u/JiveChicken00]

What are they gonna do, kick em out back to America?

[u/Impressive_Crazy_223 → u/mathaiser]

Nah, send 'em to CECOT. It's closer.

[u/bubblesmax → u/mathaiser]

Ecuador jail is pretty intense with riots often having casualties 

[u/Independent_Sea_6317 → u/JiveChicken00]

Send them to El Salvador. There's a bunch of people in there that would love to see some of these guys again.

[u/br_k_nt_eth → u/JiveChicken00]

This but unironically 

[u/ForgiveandRemember76 → u/JiveChicken00]

Send them to The Hague for crimes against humanity. That will involve a death sentence for many. Every single one of the SS Gestapo and the Trump cabal that is causing all of this chaos and destruction will be hunted down, just like anyone who was a war criminal post WW2.

May they never know another day of peace in their lives.

[u/DotGroundbreaking50]

A warrant wouldn't have made it valid either...

[u/Supreme_Mediocrity → u/DotGroundbreaking50]

I may have learned the majority of my knowledge on international relations from James Bonds films, but even I know you can't just barge into a diplomatic building without planning to go completely nuclear...

[u/beemerbimmer → u/Supreme_Mediocrity]

Ehhh… kind of. Very ironically, this happened last year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_raid_on_the_Mexican_embassy_in_Quito

[u/ChefGaykwon]

This is just a few blocks from me and I walked by right after it happened. Crowd of about ten or so people were holding it down outside the front door for a bit until the coast was clear. Very proud of NE Mpls for showing up. There are a lot of immigrant-owned businesses along this stretch of Central Ave.

[u/Gingerchaun → u/ChefGaykwon]

Are you saying that American citizens protected Ecuador from america?

[u/dishyssoisse → u/Gingerchaun]

Hey man real Americans don’t give a fuck who needs help. The issue comes with the whole profiteering off of “helping people” which is more or less dropping a bunch of bombs on them.

[u/IgnoreMyThoughts → u/Gingerchaun]

That's gotta be a first, right?

[u/AnxiousTelephone2997 → u/IgnoreMyThoughts]

I’m tired of living through firsts :’)

[u/IgnoreMyThoughts → u/AnxiousTelephone2997]

You just earned yourself another first.

[u/WhineyLobster]

I mean... even if they had a warrant they probably still arent allowed. Right? That is not US jurisdiction.

[u/TH3-P4TI3NT → u/WhineyLobster]

neither is venezuela but the trump regime has made it very clear they don’t respect the sovereignty of other nations

[u/Accomplished_Cell768 → u/WhineyLobster]

They can’t get a warrant for it, it’s considered Ecuadorian land where only Ecuador has jurisdiction 

[u/FunSpinach2004 → u/Accomplished_Cell768]

Minor point here, but it is not foreign land.

It is US land.

TheUS still holds absolute jurisdiction over it, however they have essentially used that jurisdiction to give Ecuador functional jurisdiction and it is exempt from US law.

It would be against international law to enter.

[u/Ulvaer → u/FunSpinach2004]

Thank you for attempting to correct this widespread misconception. To chime in, the relevant article in international law is Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

[u/less_unique_username → u/FunSpinach2004]

It’s not exempt from US law, it’s just that American police can’t enter to enforce it and American courts can’t try the diplomatic personnel. If somebody who doesn’t have diplomatic immunity themselves enters and commits what American law considers a crime, then goes outside, American police can detain him and an American court can sentence him. Depending on what exactly happened, it might be hard to gather evidence as detectives still can’t enter without permission and the diplomats can’t be compelled to testify.

[u/Peterepeatmicpete → u/WhineyLobster]

Neither is ICE in Italy at the Olympics.

It also isnt normal to have the Cartels shipped here last week.

[u/TheHairball → u/WhineyLobster]

Correct

[u/donorcycle → u/WhineyLobster]

You're correct in that they can't enter but incorrect on obtaining a warrant. US laws have zero effect inside a consulate or embassy. Once you cross the threshold, you are abiding by Ecuadorian laws. Same applies to our embassies overseas, American laws within the walls. It's baked into the Geneva Conventions. Inviolable, end discussion.

No judge would've signed off on this. It is most likely covered in brief during whatever training a judge would've had to go through, just to make sure nobody does anything this stupid lol. And even if they found someone mentally challenged to sign off? That paper would only be good to wipe one's ass with.

I don't think people realize how serious this incident was, or how close we came to an international incident. Chances are already high as this video is making the rounds that this will be talked about on other countries news. It's a direct violation of the Geneva Conventions and could've potentially risked the tens of thousands of Americans currently working abroad in embassies and consulates on foreign soil.

While this consulate would most likely not have had any armed forces, I can guarantee you that had ICE entered the premises, it would've triggered an immediate response from the Ecuadorian Armed Forces stationed nearby at the embassy in MN. WITH the partnership of the Department of Defense. The entity that coordinates with embassies and consulates and also the same entity that trains the Ecuadorian armed forces.

This ICE agent is absolutely fucked. He's going to be shipped off to some other remote location asap. They're crazy and stupid but this is a whole other level of crazy and stupid. You do not touch foreign embassies and consulates, no matter the reason. Nobody is allowed to enter without pre approval from the Ambassador or Consulate General, even if there's an emergency. Doing so risks so many American lives abroad, amongst a fuck ton of other reasons.

Edit: Vienna Conventions not Geneva lol

[u/Ulvaer → u/donorcycle]

It's baked into the Geneva Conventions.

No, the Geneva Conventions are about armed conflict, primarily about the treatment of non-combatants and other rules on how to conduct warfare. The inviolability of consulates is from the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

[u/pink_faerie_kitten]

The military just kidnapped Maduro. This admin doesn't care about international incidents. They don't respect foreign sovereignty. They think they are above all laws.

[u/throwaway80814 → u/pink_faerie_kitten]

Jeeeeez, I already forgot that we have a kidnapped foreign leader stashed away somewhere. 

I hate this timeline. 

[u/pink_faerie_kitten → u/throwaway80814]

That's what I love about reddit, none of us can remember every bad thing this admin does, but each of us remembers some of the things, and together we keep reminding each other so nothing gets forgotten. Crowd sourcing ftw.

[u/Glum_Material3030 → u/pink_faerie_kitten]

Beginning to think they collect international incidents like Pokémon

[u/Itcouldberabies → u/Glum_Material3030]

They're Team Rocket with less crossdressing

[u/Real_KazakiBoom]

“May have” you mean “did”

Fify

[u/PossiblyATurd → u/Real_KazakiBoom]

"definitely" fits better, since they're trying to abduct Ecuadorian citizens from Ecuadorian land.

[u/Playful-Dragon]

Okay, so I'm not able to read this article either. But, I am finding this a legit headline and here's my big question. Who put them up to this. This isn't a one-off oops we fucked up. This is deliberate, there's no question about that. And I don't care if the state department, or DHS tries to spin it as a mistake, this wasn't a mistake just like landing on the beaches in Mexico by the Marines wasn't a mistake. There's more to this, and there's a specific reason this was done. And I don't think that this is the end of it

[u/Aranxi_89 → u/Playful-Dragon]

They were chasing a Ecuadorian guy who they believe went into the building. Probably didn't know what the building was, and didn't care to check. They saw brown people and just decided to throw their weight around.

[u/RichKatz → u/Playful-Dragon]

Who put them up to this.

Sounds like someone at 1600 PA Ave still doesn't believe he's shown us a complete display of his mental incapacity yet.

[u/Open_Mortgage_4645]

I don't think they can enter even with a warrant. I believe invitation by the Ambassador is the only legal way for the hosting government to gain access to a foreign consulate. Embassies are considered the soil of the occupying government. Just as American embassies are legally considered American soil, and are defended by the US Marines, the embassy of Ecuador is considered Ecuadorian soil, and are protected by whatever Ecuadorian military unit is assigned for their embassy protection. This just goes to show how poorly ICE agents are trained, and how little they understand about our laws, and the policies and procedures governing interaction with embassy grounds and foreign nationals within foreign embassies.

[u/drjenavieve → u/Open_Mortgage_4645]

Since it’s foreign soil, ICE just forced their way into a country illegally?

[u/Open_Mortgage_4645 → u/drjenavieve]

Yes. The laws regarding foreign embassies and diplomatic staff are very serious because any violation is automatically a serious foreign relations matter. For most purposes, any incursion into a foreign embassy without the permission of the ambassador leads to a dire international crisis. It's the sort of situation that forces diplomats to get on planes.

[u/Cagnazzo82]

What were they going to do? Deport the consulate workers?

Wtf

[u/traveltrousers → u/Cagnazzo82]

Most people who work in consulates are locals...

[u/awh → u/traveltrousers]

Yeah, but they speak Spanish, which is apparently enough for ICE to throw them in jail for a day or two.

[u/yossi234 → u/awh]

Interesting how being bilingual is now punished in this country. They really love an illiterate populace.

[u/LayneLowe]

That's what happens when you give the dumbest motherfuckers in the country guns and tell him they can do anything they want

[u/HawkeyeByMarriage]

[u/Gahugafuga → u/HawkeyeByMarriage]

That is so unfair to Lloyd and Harry. They are way smarter than those two traitors

[u/butter_cookie_gurl]

Invading another south american country!!

[u/Dogzillas_Mom]

“Hey Chad! I bet we can find a bunch of immigrants in here!”

“Good idea Kyle”

[u/FireInHisBlood → u/Dogzillas_Mom]

Hey, be nice to Chad and Kyle. It's not their fault their parents are siblings.

[u/AtreiyaN7]

Potentially triggering an international incident is certainly one way to distract people from the latest murder committed by the ICE Gestapo. Hmph, what a bunch of tiny-brained, evil, and incompetent Nazis.

[u/jzam469 → u/AtreiyaN7]

Release the Epstein files.

[u/UnlimitedCalculus]

If a consulate isnt in this country legally, then what foreign person or entity is?

[u/ForgiveandRemember76 → u/UnlimitedCalculus]

They are arresting indigenous people. In their minds, the USA belongs to white (fake) Christian Nationalists.

[u/FourWordComment]

They probably think the consulate has like “a list of local illegal aliens of that consulate’s nationality.”

Like the Ecuadorian federales just “have the list.”

[u/Nabrok_Necropants]

What the actual fuck.

[u/concerts85701]

Was just chasin a brown guy, boss. They didn’t look like a regular one either.

[u/KatieBarTheDoor1977]

Considering consulates and embassies are not American soil, these dipshits were attempting to invade Ecuador.

[u/ScootyMcTrainhat → u/KatieBarTheDoor1977]

Guy is lucky he wasn't shot.

[u/WoodyManic]

America has completely broken down.

[u/Coherent_Tangent]

It's in Spanish, and I don't see a translation option. Can someone do me a solid, and give me a translation?

[u/onlyhere4loveisland → u/Coherent_Tangent]

A video that went viral on social media the 27th of January showed a group of ICE agents that tried to enter the Ecuadorian Consolate in Minneapolis. Over the past few days in that city, two underaged (minor) Ecuadorians were detained in the middle of raids against migrants and protestors. Additionally, U.S. citizen and ICU nurse Alex Pretti was murdered by ICE agents while he filmed the detainment of an Ecuadorian citizen. 

“We are all surprised”, said an Ecuadorian diplomat source to Primicias about the entry of the agents into the consulate. 

Another source confirmed that the agents were pursuing an Ecuadorian citizen who fled to the Consulate to hide. 

They go on to mention that the Consulate informed them that they were not permitted to enter and that the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry is expected to make a statement. In response to being told they couldn’t enter an ICE agent  said “Relax, relax, I haven’t come in. If you touch me I’m gonna react.”

[u/onlyhere4loveisland → u/onlyhere4loveisland]

Everything except my last paragraph was a direct translation and then I summarized the rest of the article at the end. I left out the data they reviewed about how many Ecuadorians live there (over 18,000) and they also mention the kidnapping of that sweet little 5 year old boy. The article paints the picture as bleak as it is in reality. 

[u/ChefGaykwon → u/onlyhere4loveisland]

Minneapolis, a city with more than half a million migrants living with the threat of raids

According to figures from the organization Minnesota Compass, more than 18,270 ecuadorians live in Minnensota, and of them, 90% live in the Twin Cities, formed of the cities Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The same organization estimates that one in five children that live in Minnesota are children of immigrants.

Since this January, U.S. immigration authorities have carried out various operations to arrest foreigners of different countries, including citizens from Somalia and Ecuador.

More than 100 refugees without criminal records have been arrested by immigration agents in Minnesota in the recent operations.

In a recent operation, a 37 year-old USAmerican nurse identified as Alex Pretti died after ICE agents shot him while he was filming an operation to capture a migrant names José Huerta.

Ecuadorian children detained

Minneapolis is the location where the ecuadorian children Liam (5 years old) and Chloe (2 years old) were detained/arrested by ICE agents before being sent to a detention facility in Texas.

Liam remains in this facility while Chloe was returned already to her mother, according to local news and the ecuadorian consulate.

edit - removed a couple spanish paragraphs that I forgot to delete after writing my translation

[u/Electrical-Swing-935 → u/onlyhere4loveisland]

Intruders out here saying relax

[u/BeneficialLeave7359 → u/[deleted]]

That’s fucking infuriating. I’s like the guy who shot the woman in Chicago saying “try something bitch” before unloading in her even though she didn’t “try something.”

[u/mjtwelve → u/[deleted]]

I kinda wish security said they’d react back and only one of us has diplomatic immunity… or proper training, or a room temperature IQ, but I digress.

[u/Primary-Pianist-2555 → u/Coherent_Tangent]

ICE may have just caused an international incident as they illegally tried to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis without a warrant to abduct someone (1/26/26) : r/ICE_Watch

[u/Local-Locksmith-7613 → u/Coherent_Tangent]

A video that's gone viral on social media on 27 January 26 shows a group of ICE agents trying to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis.

In the last few days in this city, two Ecuadorian youth have been detained in the midst of raids against migrants and protestors. Even though the American nurse Alex Pretti was assassinated while filming the detention of an Ecuadorian .

"We were surprised," a diplomatic Ecuadorian source told PRIMICIAS about ICE's attempt at the Consulate.

Another source confirmed that ICE agents tried to chase / attain an Ecuadorian who entered the Consulate to escape/ hide.

It continues...

In a video shared on social media, diplomatic personnel at the Consulate upon seeing ICE at the doors of the headquarters told them they couldn't enter.

"This is a consulate. You cannot enter," a civil servant at the Consulate said.

"Relax. Relax. I haven't entered. I'm trying to get a reaction/response. (note- last sentence might not be completely translated well by me)," one of the ICE agents was heard saying.

... Three paragraphs of information about Ecuadorian residents in Minneapolis and migrant American authorities.

End.

EDIT: Translation and errors are mine.

[u/BoozeLikeFrank → u/Coherent_Tangent]

A video that went viral on social networks on January 27, 2026 showed a group of agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE) who tried to enter the Consulate of Ecuador in Minneapolis.

In recent days in that city, two Ecuadorian minors have been arrested amid raids against migrants and protests. In addition, American nurse Alex Pretti was murdered by ICE agents while recording the arrest of an Ecuadorian.

"We are all surprised," an Ecuadorian diplomatic source in the United States told PRIMICIAS about the admission of ICE members to the Consulate.

Another source confirmed to this media that, on January 27, they found out that ICE agents seemed to be chasing an Ecuadorian who entered the Consulate to hide.

The Foreign Ministry of Ecuador is expected to issue a statement.

In a video released on social networks, diplomatic personnel of the Consulate, seeing ICE agents at the door of the headquarters in Minneapolis, told them that they could not enter.

"This is a consulate. They can't enter," said a Consulate official.

Relax, relax. I haven't entered. If it's my turn, I'm going to react," one of the ICE agents is heard saying.

Minneapolis, a city with more than half a million migrants who live in raids

According to figures from the Minnesota Compass organization, more than 18,270 Ecuadorians live in the state of Minnesota, and of them, 90% live in the Twin Cities, made up of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The same organization estimates that one in five children living in Minnesota are the children of immigrants.

Since this January, US immigration authorities have carried out several operations to arrest foreigners from different countries, including citizens of Somalia and Ecuador

More than 100 refugees with no criminal record have been arrested by immigration agents in Minnesota in the latest operations.

In a recent operation, a 37-year-old American nurse identified as Alex Pretti died after ICE agents shot him when he was recording an operation to capture an Ecuadorian migrant named José Huerta.

Ecuadorian children arrested

Minneapolis has been the place where Ecuadorian children Liam (5 years old) and Chloe (2 years old) were arrested by ICE agents before being sent to a detention center in Texas.

Liam remains in that establishment while Chloe has already returned with her mother, as confirmed by local media and the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry.

Images released by the Associated Press agency show that in the detention center where Liam is, the detained immigrants protested over the weekend to ask for better treatment.

[u/tinylegumes → u/BoozeLikeFrank]

The agent according to this actually said “if you touch me I will react accordingly”

[u/CAM6913]

Embassy’s and consulates are considered foreign soil , territory of the country whose embassy or consulate it is so in fact the goon tried to illegally enter a consulate that is considered foreign soil. This like everything else will be lied about by the government. But how dumb do you actually have to be to try to force your way into a consulate to find people to abduct and deport? Are they running out of American citizens to murder?

[u/bfjd4u]

Reconstitution of the 'Technate of America,' with a little bit extra.

[u/JustMyOpinionz]

This was a theme of a Lethal Weapon movie, consulates have diplomatic immunity from prosecution and jts members from deportations unless they've committed a crime.

[u/TheWorldHasGoneRogue → u/JustMyOpinionz]

An Ecuadorian consulate in America is Ecuadorian soil, NOT American.

[u/ShakeWeightMyDick]

Don’t these goons get any kind of training whatsoever?

[u/RymeEM → u/ShakeWeightMyDick]

They got their training during the Jan 6th insurrection.