BOGOTA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility said on Tuesday that an officer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to enter Ecuador's consulate in Minneapolis earlier in the day, prompting Ecuador to present a note of protest to the United States.

According to an official statement, the Consul of Ecuador in Minneapolis reported that at around 11:00 a.m. local time, an ICE agent sought to gain access to the consulate's premises. Consular staff immediately prevented the officer from entering the facility and activated emergency protocols to ensure the safety of Ecuadorian citizens inside.

The statement added that Ecuador's foreign minister promptly submitted a note of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, requesting that such actions not be repeated at any Ecuadorian consular offices in the United States. ■