Summary: ICE says agents pursuing Jorge Miguel Bravo Uriles — who has a 2022 DWI conviction and prior arrests for sexual assault and assault — chased him into an unmarked building later identified as the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis. ICE maintains agents did not enter the consulate and accuses staff of shielding the suspect, who remains at large. Ecuador filed a formal note of protest and activated emergency protocols; an eyewitness and video show consulate staff blocking agents at the door. DHS and State did not immediately comment.
ICE Says Suspect Fled Into Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis; Ecuador Files Formal Protest
Ecuador's consulate in Minneapolis, Minnesota, left, and a video purportedly showing an ICE agent allegedly trying to enter the facility on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.(Reuters)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disputed Ecuador’s claim that an ICE agent attempted to enter the Ecuadorian Consulate in Minneapolis, saying the encounter happened after agents pursued a suspect who fled into an unmarked building later identified as the consulate.
What ICE says: An ICE spokesperson said officers conducting a targeted enforcement operation on January 27 positively identified Jorge Miguel Bravo Uriles, whom the agency described as a "criminal illegal alien." ICE said Bravo Uriles has a 2022 conviction for driving while intoxicated and prior arrests for sexual assault and assault. When officers identified themselves, the spokesperson said, the suspect ran into a nearby building that was not clearly marked as the Ecuadorian Consulate. ICE maintains its officers never entered the consulate and says consulate staff protected the individual, who remains at large.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue to conduct immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2026.
Ecuador’s response: Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the incident as an "attempted incursion." In a post on social media, the ministry said consular officials prevented the ICE officer from entering the consular headquarters, safeguarded Ecuadorians who were present, and activated emergency protocols. The ministry also said Ecuador’s chancellor submitted a formal note of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador seeking assurances that similar actions will not recur.
Eyewitness accounts and video: A Reuters eyewitness said they saw officers chasing two people into the consulate, and video of the incident shows a person inside the building shouting, "This is the consulate of Ecuador, you are not allowed to enter," as a door is closed. Another voice on the footage is heard saying, "Relax, I did not enter... If you touch me, I will grab you."
Students protest against ICE during a walkout at the University of Minnesota on Jan. 26, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Political reaction and implications: Representative Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) criticized what he described as an attempt to force entry into the Ecuadorian consulate, calling it an "outrageous and unacceptable disregard for the rule of law." Meeks warned that efforts by U.S. officials to enter foreign diplomatic facilities without permission are unlawful and risk endangering American diplomats and families abroad.
Official comment: The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Context: Diplomatic facilities enjoy special protections under international law. The two sides present differing accounts: ICE emphasizes officers’ safety and that they did not enter the consulate, while Ecuador stresses the protection of its premises and citizens and has lodged a formal protest.
The investigation and any diplomatic follow-up are likely to clarify whether protocols or markings at the consulate played a role and whether further action will be taken by either government.
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