Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will play a role in the security scheme for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, according to information confirmed by The Associated Press thru sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. ICE’s involvement has sparked political and social controversy in Italy, especially in the city of Milan, one of the main venues for the sporting event.
According to diplomatic sources, ICE agents will not conduct immigration raids or make arrests, but will instead serve in support of U.S. diplomatic security teams, a practice that has already been implemented at previous Olympic Games. At these events, various U.S. federal agencies, including ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division, have collaborated to protect official delegations.
The mayor of Milan rejects the presence of ICE
The confirmation of the ICE’s role prompted an immediate reaction from the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, who assured that the agency is not welcome in the city, where most of the ice competitions will take place between February 6 and 22, 2026.
“This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters people’s homes by signing its own warrants. It’s clear they’re not welcome in Milan”, Sala told RTL Radio 102.
The mayor’s statements were made before ICE’s involvement was officially confirmed and reflect the sensitivity of the immigration issue in Europe, especially in the context of a high-profile international event like the Winter Olympics.
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Italian authorities maintain an ambiguous stance
The issue was initially reported by the Italian newspaper il Fatto Quotidiano, which led to contradictory messages among Italian authorities. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that he had not received formal confirmation of ICE’s deployment, although he said he saw no problem with its presence, according to the ANSA news agency.
Subsequently, the Ministry of the Interior reiterated that the United States has not confirmed the final composition of its security team, and underscored that, to date, there is no indication that ICE is acting as the official escort for the U.S. delegation.
A high-level U.S. delegation will attend the inauguration
The White House announced that U.S. Vise President J.D. Vance will lead the delegation attending the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The presence of high-level figures underscores the importance of the diplomatic security operation.
Context of tension due to recent actions by ICE
The confirmation of ICE’s role comes at a time of growing international tension, after Italian state broadcaster RAI aired a video showing ICE agents threatening to break the window of a news vehicle in Minneapolis during coverage of protests against deportations and U.S. immigration policies.
In recent weeks, two protesters have been shot and killed by federal officers in Minneapolis, incidents that have intensified the debate over ICE’s actions and amplified the controversy surrounding its involvement in international events such as the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.
