Plans for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to take part in security operations at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina have sparked outrage in Italy, with the mayor of Milan declaring that the agency is “not welcome” in the city. Sources at the US embassy in Rome confirmed that federal agents would support diplomatic security details during the Games, but would not carry out enforcement operations.
In a statement, ICE said its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit was supporting the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host nation to “vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations”. The announcement came amid mounting controversy over the agency’s role, particularly after the fatal shootings this month of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis.
Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, told RTL radio that the agents would not be welcome “because they don’t guarantee they’re aligned with our democratic security management methods”. He added: “This is a militia that kills. It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan, there’s no doubt about it. Can’t we just say no to Trump for once? We can take care of their security ourselves. We don’t need ICE.”
Political opposition was swift. Alessandro Zan, a centre-left MEP, said the agents’ presence would be unacceptable, writing on X that “in Italy, we don’t want those who trample on human rights and act outside of any democratic control”. Two small opposition parties, the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) and Azione, launched petitions calling on the government and Olympic organisers to block the agents’ involvement. “ICE is the militia that shoots people on the streets of Minneapolis and takes children away from their families,” AVS said.
Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, sought to calm the furore, saying: “It’s not like the SS are coming. They’re not coming to maintain public order in the middle of the streets. They’re coming to collaborate in the operations rooms.” The interior ministry confirmed that its minister, Matteo Piantedosi, had met the US ambassador, Tilman J Fertitta, and that only ICE’s investigative arm would be involved, not its operational arm. During the Games, the US will set up its own operations room at its consulate in Milan, where HSI experts will support the management of major events and liaise with liaison officers.
The controversy follows the broadcast by RAI state TV of a video showing ICE agents threatening to break the window of a vehicle used by its crew reporting in Minneapolis. ICE’s investigative unit operates in more than 50 countries, including Italy, but the ministry said its staff do not perform immigration control operations abroad.
