ICE on Ice – Italy’s Left Objects to U.S. Immigration Enforcement Officers Going to the Olympics

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will accompany the American delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, scheduled for February 6–22. DHS said agents from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit will join State Department security teams to assess and mitigate risks posed by transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling, fentanyl trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.

This follows standard Olympic security practices, in which multiple U.S. federal agencies support diplomatic security for American delegations abroad. The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service typically leads these efforts and coordinates with other federal agencies, including DHS components, as needed.

U.S. officials emphasized that all security operations will remain under Italian authority and that ICE will not conduct immigration enforcement abroad. Agents will primarily operate from the U.S. consulate in Milan rather than at Olympic venues or on city streets.

Italian Media Coverage and Public Perception

Italian television coverage of ICE has been largely negative, particularly following controversial enforcement actions in the United States. Reports on networks like Telegiornale La7 and RAI have often portrayed ICE as using excessive force, leading some Italians to believe in high-profile claims, including allegations of wrongful deportation, kidnapping of children as bait, and fatal shootings.

One recent incident involved two RAI journalists in Minneapolis. Italian media reported that ICE agents threatened the journalists while they were filming federal immigration enforcement. In reality, ICE stopped the journalists’ vehicle after it had followed agents for an extended period. Agents asked the journalists to comply, and when they refused, one officer warned, “This is the only warning. If you keep following us, we’ll smash the window and drag you out of the car.” Context makes clear the warning referred to refusing to follow orders, not merely filming. The episode quickly became a political controversy in Italy, with politicians condemning ICE’s actions.

Political Reactions in Italy

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala criticized ICE’s planned presence, calling the agency “a militia” and questioning whether Italy could refuse President Trump’s request. Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged the government to block ICE, citing “street violence and killings” in the United States linked to the agency. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, described ICE as “an armed body that has shown contempt for the law” and questioned how it could respect Italian sovereignty.

Despite these objections, Italy faces its own immigration and crime challenges. In 2024, the country received 158,482 asylum applications and 66,317 undocumented migrants. Approximately 321,000 people live without documentation, while 139,141 migrants are in Italy’s reception system. Foreign workers make up 10.1 percent of the workforce, and legal migrants have access to welfare benefits comparable to Italian citizens.

Crime statistics show that foreign nationals, though only 9 percent of Italy’s population, commit disproportionate rates of certain offenses. In Milan, they account for 78 percent of the prison population and 65 percent of all crimes. Studies indicate that legal immigrants are twice as likely as Italians to commit crimes, while illegal immigrants are 14 times more likely. Non-EU minors, representing 1.5 percent of the population, commit significant shares of thefts, assaults, and sexual offenses among minors.

Given these realities, some observers argue that Italy might benefit from the support of ICE in ensuring security for high-profile international events.

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