A growing diplomatic controversy has erupted in Italy over the planned deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist with security at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, sparking anger among Italian politicians and citizens.
The United States has confirmed that ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division will play a role supporting diplomatic security operations during the Games, which run from February 6–22. According to U.S. embassy sources, the agents will not conduct immigration enforcement but will work with other federal agencies to help mitigate transnational criminal threats and support the U.S. delegation’s safety under Italian authority.
However, the announcement has ignited fierce backlash in Italy, where the presence of an agency closely associated with controversial immigration enforcement policies under former U.S. administrations has been met with strong opposition. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has publicly condemned the deployment, labeling ICE a “militia that kills” and asserting that the agents are “not welcome” in the host city during the Olympics.
The controversy reflects broader tensions between Italian public opinion and aspects of U.S. security policy. Opposition leaders and civil rights groups in Italy have called for petitions and protests to block ICE’s involvement, arguing that its reputation conflicts with Italian democratic values and the Olympic spirit.
Italian national officials have offered mixed responses: while the interior minister has sought to downplay concerns, emphasizing that the agents will remain under Italian jurisdiction and without enforcement powers, critics argue that even their symbolic presence undermines public trust.
The debate highlights diplomatic sensitivities as the world focuses on Milan-Cortina 2026’s opening ceremony and the complex balance of international cooperation and domestic political sentiment leading into the global event.
