The upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Italy have become embroiled in political controversy following revelations that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will participate in security operations. According to an official statement obtained by AFP, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division will collaborate with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and Italian authorities to assess and mitigate potential threats from transnational criminal organizations during the February 6-22 event.
The agency emphasized that all security operations remain under Italian jurisdiction and clarified that ‘ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries.’ This assurance comes amid growing concerns about the agency’s involvement, particularly following recent civilian fatalities during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis that sparked national outrage.
Italian officials have offered conflicting accounts regarding the scope of ICE’s participation. Initial denials of their presence were followed by attempts to minimize their role, suggesting they would primarily provide security for the U.S. delegation attending the Games. Attilio Fontana, president of Lombardy region hosting some Olympic events, initially stated their involvement would be ‘only in a defensive role’ focused on protecting U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the February 6 opening ceremony in Milan. However, his office subsequently issued a clarification indicating these remarks addressed a hypothetical scenario rather than confirming specific operational details.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of increased ICE deployments across American cities under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has prompted widespread protests. The recent deaths of two U.S. citizens—37-year-olds Renee Good and Alex Pretti—during Minneapolis enforcement actions have further intensified scrutiny of the agency’s methods and international reputation.