Reports had been circulating for days that the agency, involved in an often brutal crackdown on immigration in the United States, could be involved in U.S. security measures for the Feb. 6-22 Olympics in northern Italy.
In a statement made overnight to AFPICE said: “During the Olympic Games, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) supports the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host nation to monitor and mitigate risks related to transnational criminal organizations.
“All security operations remain under Italian authority.”
It is unclear whether the HSI has competed in the Olympics before or whether this is a first.
According to the ICE website, HSI investigates global threats, investigating the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology to, from and through the United States.
ICE has made clear that its operations in Italy are separate from immigration enforcement, carried out by the Department of Enforcement and Removal Operations.
“Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries,” he said.
Protection of U.S. citizens during the Olympic Games abroad is provided by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
Yet outrage over ICE’s immigration operations in the United States is shared by many Italians, following the deaths of two civilians during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
The left-wing mayor of Milan, which hosts several Olympic events, said the ICE was “not welcome.”
“It’s a militia that kills… It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan, there’s no doubt about it,” said Giuseppe Sala RTL102.5 radio.
“Can’t we say no to (US President Donald) Trump for once?”
Alessandro Zan, an MEP from the center-left Democratic Party, condemned it as “unacceptable.”
“In Italy we do not want those who flout human rights and act outside of any democratic control,” he wrote on X.
Vance Monitoring
Italian authorities initially denied ICE’s presence, then sought to downplay any role, suggesting they would only help ensure the security of the American delegation.
US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the opening ceremony in Milan on February 6.
On Monday, the president of the northern Lombardy region said their involvement would be limited to monitoring Vance and Rubio.
“It will only be in a defensive role, but I am convinced that nothing will happen,” Attilio Fontana told reporters.
However, his office later issued a statement saying it had no specific information about their presence, but was responding to a hypothetical question.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reportedly said Monday evening that “ICE, as such, will never work in Italy.”
The International Olympic Committee, contacted by AFP regarding this, replied: “We kindly refer you to the USOPC (the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee).”
Thousands of ICE agents have been deployed by US President Donald Trump to various US cities to combat illegal immigration.
Their actions have sparked widespread protests and the recent killings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, on the streets of Minneapolis have sparked outrage.
