Italian Outcry Over Deployment of US ICE Agents for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Security

Washington D.C. – There is growing outrage in Italy following the decision to deploy agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to support U.S. security reinforcement during the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics next month.

Following a recent incident in Minneapolis, USA, where two people were killed by an immigration agent's gunfire during an immigration operation, current and former parliamentarians have urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to intervene, stating that the presence of ICE agents abroad is unacceptable.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the deployment of ICE agents, clarifying that they will only have a security-related role during the Olympics. According to the department, ICE will not conduct immigration enforcement in Italy.

Trishia McFlint, a spokesperson for the department, stated that ICE's investigative branch, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), will assist the Diplomatic Security Service under the U.S. Department of State. According to her, all security actions will remain within Italian jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi met with U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Tullio Bombardieri, confirming that only ICE's investigative branch will be present at the Olympics. According to the Interior Ministry, these agents will be confined within the diplomatic mission and will not carry out security operations on the ground.

Amid growing criticism of U.S. immigration policies, the presence of ICE at the Winter Olympics has further fueled political and public debate in Italy.