ICE Deployment at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Triggers Controversy in Italy

Recent ICE Violence Fuels Italian Concerns

In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has ramped up its immigration enforcement big time. citizens. One case involved a woman named Renee Good, and another a man named Alex Pretti (or similar names reported). These shootings happened during operations tied to the crackdown, and they've been all over the news. A RAI news crew even got threatened by ICE agents while covering the story there. So, when Italians heard "ICE" might be coming to their country for the Olympics, a lot of folks immediately connected it to those aggressive tactics—raids, deportations, and now deadly force against citizens.

Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, didn't hold back. In an interview with RTL Radio 102, he called ICE "a militia that kills" and said they enter homes without proper warrants, basically signing their own permission slips. He made it crystal clear: they're not welcome in Milan. Sala pointed out that Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony on February 6, along with other high-profile U.S. figures, but he still pushed back hard against the idea of ICE agents being anywhere near the city.

HSI vs ERO: Understanding the Distinction

HSI deals with cross-border crimes—like human smuggling, fentanyl trafficking, money laundering, cyber threats from abroad, and even smuggling of cultural artifacts. They're not the same as the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) side of ICE, which handles arrests, detentions, and deportations inside the U.S. No ERO officers are being sent, officials stressed.

HSI agents have been posted in more than 50 countries for years, including Italy, usually working out of embassies or consulates to build partnerships with local police. For big events like the Olympics, they often help with threat assessments, sharing intelligence about transnational organized crime, and coordinating with host nations. In this case, they'll be based mainly at the U.S. Consulate in Milan, in a control room, working alongside the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service and Italian authorities. They won't be out on the streets patrolling or doing any kind of immigration enforcement—because they can't do that abroad anyway. The Department of Homeland Security put out a clear statement: "Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries." All actual security on Italian soil stays 100% under Italian control.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously because security details are sensitive, said most people attending the Games probably won't even notice these HSI agents. They'll be behind the scenes, in offices, analyzing risks from criminal networks that might target the event or U.S. participants. This isn't new—HSI has done similar support roles at past Olympics and other major international gatherings.

But the optics are tough. Even though HSI has tried in the past to distance itself from the more controversial deportation side of ICE (they even changed some branding and email addresses to avoid backlash in certain areas), things have shifted under the current administration. Reports say HSI agents have been teaming up more with ERO on immigration-related cases, joining operations and looking into fraud tied to visas or borders. That blurring of lines makes it harder for people to see the distinction, especially when emotions are high over recent violence in places like Minneapolis.

Political Tensions and Transatlantic Relations

The backlash in Italy isn't just about this one deployment—it's part of a bigger picture. Relations between the U.S. under President Trump and many European allies have been strained lately. There have been public spats over things like threats regarding Greenland, trade issues, and differing approaches to global problems. The Olympics are supposed to be about unity and sport, but this has highlighted those divides. Some Italian politicians from the left have called it "unacceptable," worrying that agents associated with human rights concerns in the U.S. might not respect norms abroad. Even some in the governing coalition expressed surprise or mild criticism.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tried to downplay it, saying these aren't the "machine-gun-carrying" ICE agents from U.S. streets—they're counter-terrorism and investigative types. Interior Minister Piantedosi initially shrugged it off, saying he didn't see a problem and that delegations can bring their own security people. But after the outcry grew, the government sought more details from U.S. diplomats and reiterated that no foreign agents would handle public order.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stayed neutral, reminding everyone that host countries lead on security and work hand-in-hand with delegations. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee echoed that, saying they coordinate with the State Department and the host nation, but not directly with domestic immigration enforcement.

Public Reaction and Ongoing Petitions

The backlash in Italy isn't just about this one deployment—it's part of a bigger picture. Relations between the U.S. under President Trump and many European allies have been strained lately. There have been public spats over things like threats regarding Greenland, trade issues, and differing approaches to global problems. The Olympics are supposed to be about unity and sport, but this has highlighted those divides. Some Italian politicians from the left have called it "unacceptable," worrying that agents associated with human rights concerns in the U.S. might not respect norms abroad. Even some in the governing coalition expressed surprise or mild criticism.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tried to downplay it, saying these aren't the "machine-gun-carrying" ICE agents from U.S. streets—they're counter-terrorism and investigative types. Interior Minister Piantedosi initially shrugged it off, saying he didn't see a problem and that delegations can bring their own security people. But after the outcry grew, the government sought more details from U.S. diplomats and reiterated that no foreign agents would handle public order.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stayed neutral, reminding everyone that host countries lead on security and work hand-in-hand with delegations. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee echoed that, saying they coordinate with the State Department and the host nation, but not directly with domestic immigration enforcement.

Looking Ahead to the Opening Ceremony

In the end, it seems like a classic case of miscommunication and bad timing. The U.S. is following a routine protocol for protecting its people at major events abroad, but the name "ICE" carries so much baggage right now that even the clarifications haven't fully eased the concerns. With the Opening Ceremony just days away, everyone hopes the focus shifts back to skiing, skating, and the joy of winter sports, rather than political friction.