ICE to Provide Security at Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to provide security during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, according to recent reports.

Officials from the U.S. Embassy shared with The Associated Press that ICE agents will focus on diplomatic security and will not engage in immigration-related duties during the event.

It’s not unusual for federal agencies to assist with the security of U.S. diplomats at major international events, including the Olympics. Interestingly, during past games, ICE’s investigative division, known as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), played a similar role.

However, this news hasn’t been exactly well-received in Italy. Milan’s Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, voiced strong objections, referring to images of undercover agents from Minneapolis and asserting that ICE is not welcome in the city. It’s worth noting that Milan will host most of the Olympic events, which kick off on February 6.

Sala has been quite vocal, declaring ICE a “paramilitary group” that has engaged in controversial practices. Before the announcement of ICE’s involvement, he expressed on RTL Radio 102 that there’s no doubt they wouldn’t be accepted in Milan.

Contradictory to the mayor’s stance, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi mentioned that he wasn’t aware of ICE’s planned role at the Olympics but acknowledged that the situation might evolve. It seems there’s some uncertainty on multiple fronts regarding this arrangement.

Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance is set to lead the U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vance’s younger daughter, Usha, expected to attend as well.