U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel are set to assist in ensuring the safety of U.S. delegations during the Winter Olympics in Italy, according to a statement from a U.S. embassy insider on Tuesday. This confirmation has stirred controversy among certain Italian officials. ICE and Border Patrol agents have faced significant backlash in the U.S. for their handling of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies following two fatal shootings involving U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month.
The embassy source, requesting anonymity, revealed that ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division will support the U.S. State Department’s security service during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics scheduled for February 6-22. While in Italy, HSI agents will not engage in immigration enforcement activities but instead focus on averting risks posed by transnational criminal groups, as stated by the source without further details. The source emphasized that all security operations will remain under Italian jurisdiction.
HSI has participated in security measures at major international sporting events previously, including the Olympics, to address issues related to human trafficking and drug trade through global partnerships, as noted by a former official. ICE spokespersons did not provide immediate responses concerning the operation in Italy. A State Department representative mentioned that various federal agencies, including HSI, would be involved in ensuring security, aligning with past Olympic practices.
Despite assertions that the HSI deployment is routine, Italian politicians have voiced opposition to ICE’s engagement in the upcoming Games, citing recent controversies surrounding the United States. Maurizio Lupi, a centrist party leader in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, criticized the involvement of ICE as “sheer idiocy.” The mayor of Milan, one of the Olympic host cities, labeled ICE as “a militia that kills,” expressing clear discontent with their presence. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged a measured response, distinguishing the HSI agents from those involved in recent events in Minneapolis.
Italia Viva, an opposition party led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, called for barring ICE-affiliated agents from entering Italy, stating that they do not align with Italian values. The USB trade union announced plans for an “ICE OUT” demonstration in central Milan on Feb. 6, coinciding with the Games’ opening ceremony.
