Italy has reacted with anger and unease after the United States confirmed that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be involved in security support operations during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, scheduled to begin on 6 February.
The controversy erupted after reports linked the deployment to recent incidents in Minneapolis involving ICE officers, including a fatal shooting that has sparked nationwide protests in the United States. Images from Minneapolis circulated widely in Italian media, intensifying public concern and political criticism.
Milan’s mayor, Beppe Sala, was among the most vocal critics. Speaking to Italian radio, he described ICE as “a militia that kills” and said such forces were “not welcome in Milan.” His remarks echoed broader fears that the presence of ICE agents could undermine Italy’s democratic approach to public security.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attempted to defuse tensions, insisting that comparisons with historical authoritarian forces were exaggerated. “It’s not like the SS are coming,” he said, stressing that the agents involved were specialists in counter-terrorism rather than street-level enforcement officers.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a branch of ICE, would provide support during the Games. According to US officials, the role of HSI agents would be “strictly supportive,” focused on intelligence sharing, risk assessment, and countering transnational criminal and terrorist threats. DHS emphasized that all security operations would be “directed and managed exclusively by Italian authorities.”
Italian officials moved quickly to reassure the public. Tajani said no ICE agents would patrol Italian streets, adding that security during the Games would be handled by Italian police forces, including the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza. The Interior Ministry later clarified that US agencies would operate from an internal coordination room at the US consulate in Milan, rather than participating in visible security activities.
Initial confusion within the Italian government added fuel to the controversy. Interior Minister Matteo Pantedosi initially suggested he was unaware of ICE’s involvement and downplayed concerns, calling foreign security cooperation at major international events “normal.” However, amid growing backlash, he later took a firmer stance, stating that ICE “will certainly not operate on Italian national territory.”
Public anger has been heightened by recent confrontations between ICE agents and journalists in Minneapolis. Two reporters from Italian public broadcaster RAI said they were threatened by ICE officers while covering enforcement actions, an incident that was widely reported in Italy and cited by critics as evidence of the agency’s aggressive tactics.
Regional and national leaders have sought to calm the situation. Lombardy governor Attilio Fontana suggested that US agents were primarily deployed to protect senior American officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are expected to attend the Games.
Opposition politicians, however, accused Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government of being overly deferential to Washington. Senator Barbara Floridia of the Five Star Movement warned that government silence risked signaling “cowardice and subservience” toward former US President Donald Trump.
Despite official reassurances, skepticism remains high. Mayor Sala reiterated his opposition, arguing that ICE agents do not align with Italy’s democratic standards of security and public order.
As the Winter Olympics approach, the episode highlights the sensitivity surrounding international security cooperation, particularly when foreign agencies are associated with controversial actions at home. While both governments insist that Italian sovereignty over security will remain intact, the debate has exposed deep political and public divisions over the limits of such collaboration.