The controversy began after reports suggested agents from the US’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency would be present at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Centre-left opposition parties warned that it could be given a part in security measures on Italian soil as the games got underway — a claim that quickly gained traction amid heightened scrutiny of ICE in the US.
Speaking to Italian radio station RTL 102.5, Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala took a firm stance against any such move, describing ICE as “a militia that kills, that enters people’s homes by signing its own warrants”, and adding that it was therefore “clear they are not welcome in Milan”.
ICE is a key player in President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative, with the power to detain and arrest people it suspects of being in the US illegally. It has become deeply controversial in recent weeks over the fatal shootings of civilians during recent enforcement operations in Minneapolis, which have sparked nationwide protests and political backlash.
Italian authorities initially denied the presence of ICE agents altogether, before later playing down their role, saying they would be involved only in protecting the US delegation. That delegation is expected to include US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are due to attend the opening ceremony in Milan on 6 February.
The announcement sparked protests from Italy’s left-wing parties, with demonstrators holding “ICE OUT” placards at the Lombardy regional council. Meanwhile, former prime minister Giuseppe Conte said on X that Italy should “set its own boundaries”, accusing ICE of wanting to “come and ensure security” in the country.
The comments refer to a statement given by ICE to AFP, in which the agency said that its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit would support the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and cooperate with Italian authorities to assess and mitigate risks linked to transnational criminal organisations during the Olympics.
However, the same statement explicitly ruled out any immigration enforcement role abroad and stressed that all Olympic security operations would remain under the authority of the Italian state.
Meanwhile, a citizen-led petition has been launched in Germany calling for a ban on ICE agents travelling in the European Union. It has so far attracted nearly 83,000 signatures as of the time of writing.
What will ICE’s role really be at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has firmly rejected accusations that ICE will play a part in Italian security efforts at the Winter Olympics.
He said that it was “not ICE’s job to guarantee the physical security” of President Trump, Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio — a task carried out instead by the US Secret Service.
Italy’s Interior Ministry reiterated that “all territorial security operations will remain under the exclusive responsibility and direction of the Italian authorities”.
Following a meeting between Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and the US ambassador to Italy, the ministry clarified that any ICE personnel present would be HSI investigators only, with no operational powers.
“It is important to recall that HSI investigators will not be operational agents like those assigned to immigration controls in the United States,” the statement said. “They will have no specific responsibilities in Italy and will mainly consult their databases and provide analytical support to other stakeholders.”
The International Olympic Committee told Euronews’ fact-checking team, The Cube, that “security at the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the authorities of the host country, who work closely with the participating delegations”.
Tajani later dismissed the controversy in an interview with Italian news outlet L’Espresso, saying: “It’s not like the SS are about to arrive”.
A routine arrangement
Cooperation of this kind is not unusual for major international events involving high-profile foreign delegations.
It is common for the US Department of Homeland Security and other domestic law enforcement agencies to provide security support at major overseas events, working alongside host nations.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Italy said that the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service has, at previous Olympic Games, been supported by several federal agencies, including the HSI.
Similar arrangements were, indeed, put in place for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Around 35,000 French police officers and gendarmes were deployed across the capital, supported by foreign law enforcement personnel invited by France.
More than 1,750 police officers from 44 countries — including Germany, the UK, Qatar and the United States — assisted French police and gendarmerie units, primarily in advisory, liaison and specialist roles.
The US contribution included personnel from four law enforcement agencies, among them officers from the New York Police Department. Specialist K-9 units were also deployed, including dogs trained in explosive detection.