ICE agents will support US security at the Milan Winter Olympics, focusing on vetting criminal threats, not immigration enforcement, amid Italian political debate.
AGENTS from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will assist with American security operations during next month’s Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
An agency spokesperson confirmed the support role to AFP, stating ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit is aiding the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host nation.
“Their role is to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations,” the agency said in a statement.
It emphasised that all security operations remain under Italian authority and that ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement in foreign countries.
The potential involvement of the divisive agency has sparked significant political debate in Italy.
This follows recent outcry over the deaths of two civilians during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, USA.
Italian authorities initially denied ICE’s presence before seeking to downplay its role.
Officials suggested the agents would only assist with security for the US delegation, which includes Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The president of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, said on Monday their involvement would be limited to monitoring the two US officials.
“It will be only in a defensive role, but I am convinced that nothing will happen,” Fontana told reporters.
His office later issued a clarification, stating he had no specific information on their presence and was responding to a hypothetical question.
Thousands of ICE agents have been deployed across US cities by President Donald Trump for a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Their actions have prompted widespread protests in the United States.
The recent killings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, on the streets of Minneapolis during an operation sparked particular outrage.
