Video shows people who appear to be deliberately burning documents in the inner, open-air courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston.
"Houston police tell FOX 26 that they were burning classified documents because they are being evicted from the building on Friday at 4 p.m. When asked why the Chinese Consulate was being evicted, HPD told us to ask the U.S. State Department or President Donald Trump himself."
According to KPRC, "Houston police and fire officials are responding to reports that documents are being burned in the courtyard of the Consulate General of China in Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. Houston police say they began receiving the reports that documents were being burned just after 8 p.m. at 3417 Montrose Boulevard where the Consulate General of China is located."This video shared with us by a viewer who lives next to the Consulate General of China in #Houston shows fire and activity in the courtyard of the building.— KPRC2Tulsi (@KPRC2Tulsi) July 22, 2020
DETAILS SO FAR: https://t.co/2cOeKoap96 pic.twitter.com/0myxe6HIlC
| PRC Consulate General, Houston (Mapquest) |
Local Jurisdiction or Not?
Unless the fires get out of control, however, Houston authorities probably can't do anything other than keep on eye on things and, as reported, control local street traffic.
UPDATE: This Fox News report confirms what I said earlier: "Houston fire and police departments responded to the scene but were not allowed entry into the building. Because it is a consulate, it falls under Chinese sovereignty allowing them to deny anyone access."
Unless invited into the consulate, they cannot enter. Consulates are legally considered to be the territory of the country they represent; in this case, China. The City of Houston has no jurisdiction inside of that consulate.
Appears the Chinese Consulate is conducting a "burn out" where all classified and sensitive materials are destroyed.— Christopher Burgess (@burgessct) July 22, 2020
#china #natsec https://t.co/BSg9CJhGd6
In some cases, a country and the United States have concluded a bilateral consular agreement that grants to members of the staff of their consulates (provided they are not U.S. nationals, legal permanent residents, or permanently resident in the United States) privileges and immunities approximating those afforded diplomatic agents. Law enforcement officers should be aware that these arrangements are not uniform and the U.S. Department of State identification cards issued to these persons reflect the appropriate level of immunity. [See full PDF]
This is not the first time that Houston Fire has sent trucks to the Chinese Consulate. In August 2017 the consulate actually called HFD for help when a fire broke out on the fifth floor of their building.
