Italy's Olympic Security Row: Milan Mayor Slams ICE as 'Militia That Kills'
The announcement that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will have a security role in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy has ignited a fierce political controversy, with Milan's mayor leading calls to block their involvement.
Diplomatic Security Role Sparks Outrage
Sources at the US embassy in Rome have confirmed that ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit will support diplomatic security details during the Milan-Cortina games, scheduled to begin on 6 February 2026. The agents will assist in vetting and mitigating risks from transnational criminal organisations, with all security operations remaining under Italian authority.
However, this diplomatic arrangement has been met with significant opposition across Italy, particularly following recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis. The controversy intensified after Lombardy region president Attilio Fontana revealed that US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be protected by ICE bodyguards during the Olympic events.
Political Backlash and Petitions
Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has emerged as a vocal critic of the arrangement, telling RTL radio that ICE agents "clearly are not welcome in Milan" and describing the agency as "a militia that kills." He questioned why Italy couldn't refuse the Trump administration's security personnel, asserting that "we can take care of their security ourselves."
The political opposition has mobilised against ICE's involvement, with two smaller parties – the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) and Azione – launching formal petitions calling on the Italian government and Olympic organisers to prevent the agents' entry and participation in security operations. AVS characterised ICE as "the militia that shoots people on the streets of Minneapolis and takes children away from their families."
Government Relations and Security Protocols
The controversy highlights tensions between Italy's far-right government, which has cultivated friendly relations with Donald Trump's administration, and opposition figures who object to ICE's immigration enforcement methods. According to reports in La Repubblica, the government briefly considered blocking ICE's participation but faced practical obstacles, as doing so would require departing from established protocols for protecting US officials during high-profile international visits.
European Parliament member Alessandro Zan of the centre-left Democratic party echoed the concerns, stating on social media platform X that "in Italy, we don't want those who trample on human rights and act outside of any democratic control."
Media Coverage and Public Perception
The security debate has been amplified by Italian media coverage, including RAI state television's broadcast of footage showing ICE agents threatening to break the windows of a news crew's vehicle in Minneapolis. This visual evidence has reinforced critics' arguments about the agency's methods and contributed to growing public unease about their role in Olympic security.
As preparations continue for the Winter Games, the dispute over ICE's involvement represents a significant diplomatic and security challenge for Italian authorities, balancing international cooperation with domestic political pressures and public sentiment about human rights and law enforcement practices.
