Planned U.S. ICE Security Presence at Winter Olympics Draws Scrutiny in Italy
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A political controversy is emerging in Italy ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina following reports that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be involved in security arrangements linked to visiting U.S. officials.
According to U.S. diplomatic sources cited by international news agencies, ICE personnel are expected to be part of the security detail accompanying senior U.S. representatives attending the Games. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to be present, prompting additional protective measures in line with standard U.S. practice for high-level overseas visits.
U.S. officials have stated that any ICE involvement would be limited to supporting broader security operations and would not include immigration enforcement activities. Responsibility for overall security at the Games, they stressed, would remain with Italian authorities.
Despite these assurances, the prospect of ICE agents operating in Italy has drawn criticism from local political leaders. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said the agency would not be welcome in the city, arguing that its operational approach does not align with Italy’s democratic standards for public security. He added that Italian services were fully capable of ensuring the safety of visiting dignitaries without external assistance.
Italian media have reported that the national government briefly examined whether it could restrict ICE participation in the U.S. delegation. Such a move, however, would have represented a departure from established diplomatic protocols governing the protection of foreign officials abroad and was not pursued further.
Commentators have also warned that the presence of ICE agents could trigger public demonstrations, given the agency’s controversial profile and heightened sensitivity following recent incidents in the United States involving law enforcement conduct. These concerns have been amplified by recent footage aired by Italian state broadcaster RAI showing ICE agents confronting a television crew during a reporting assignment in Minneapolis.
Italian security officials have sought to downplay the issue, emphasising that no formal agreement has been announced granting ICE an operational role on Italian soil. They reiterated that public order and security for the Games fall under the authority of the Interior Ministry and domestic law enforcement bodies.
The episode highlights the complex balance between diplomatic convention and domestic political sensitivities as Italy prepares to host a major international event. The Milan-Cortina Games will be the country’s first Winter Olympics since 2006 and will involve a geographically dispersed set of venues, placing added focus on coordination between national and international security actors.
