Italian political debate has intensified after confirmation that the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will play a security support role during next month’s Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The announcement has sparked alarm across political circles in Italy, mostly in response to controversial actions by ICE agents in the United States in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for ICE said on Tuesday that the agency’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit will assist the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Italian host authorities in vetting and mitigating risks posed by transnational criminal organisations at the Games. The statement emphasised that all security operations will remain under Italian authority.
The role of ICE has been described by US embassy sources as focused on support rather than direct policing. Agents are expected to work alongside diplomatic security details rather than carry out immigration enforcement in Italy.
Reports from Italian Interior Ministry sources earlier this week had suggested that ICE would not be operating on Italian soil during the Olympics. Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana had said any involvement would be limited to protection of senior US officials attending the opening ceremony, including Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Domestic opposition grows
The confirmation that ICE will be involved drew immediate opposition from political figures in Italy. Milan’s centre-left Mayor Giuseppe Sala described the agency as “a militia that kills”. He asserted that agents are “not aligned with our democratic way of providing security” and are unwelcome in the city hosting most Olympic ice events.
Alessandro Zan, a Member of the European Parliament for the centre-left Democratic Party, called ICE’s involvement “unacceptable”. He urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to push back against pressure from the United States.
Even within Meloni’s ruling coalition, dissent has emerged. Massimiliano Salini, a Forza Italia MEP, said there was no need for ICE at the Games.
Controversy in the United States
The backlash comes amid intense scrutiny of ICE after two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month. In one case, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse, was shot and killed by ICE agents during a protest. This prompted calls from US lawmakers for a transparent investigation and wider debate about federal enforcement tactics.
An Italian journalist was threatened this week by ICE agents, as she followed them on their patrols. The agents threatened to smash the windows and pull her out, if she didn’t desist.
These developments have fed into the political debate in Italy. Critics argue that the agency’s reputation overseas is at odds with European expectations of security forces.
Italian Authorities and Olympic Security
Italian state police and interior ministry sources maintain that public order and security at the Games are wholly the responsibility of Italian authorities. There are no formal cooperation agreements for ICE deployment have been signed.
Officials stress that security planning for the Olympics involves multiple international partners. Furthermore, that foreign agencies typically support their national delegations under host-nation oversight.
The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics will open on 6 February 2026 for two weeks of competition.
