Protest in Milan Amplifies Opposition to ICE’s Limited Role at 2026 Winter Games
Updated (7 articles)
ICE’s HSI Unit Assigned to Support U.S. Delegation Security The Department of Homeland Security announced that agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), not the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) branch, will assist the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. HSI officers will operate from a control room inside the U.S. consulate in Milan and will not patrol streets or conduct immigration enforcement on Italian soil[3][4]. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that ICE does not perform immigration‑enforcement activities abroad, limiting its role to intelligence‑sharing on transnational crime[5].
Italian Authorities Retain Full Security Command for the Games Italy’s interior ministry confirmed that roughly 6,000 Italian police, Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza will guard Olympic venues, supplemented by drones, aerial surveillance and a 24‑hour cybersecurity control room[2]. The International Olympic Committee reiterated that host‑nation authorities are solely responsible for security, coordinating with delegations but retaining overall direction[3]. Italian officials stressed that ICE agents will have no operational authority and will remain under Italian oversight[4].
Milan Mayor and National Leaders Reject ICE Presence Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala repeatedly called ICE “a militia that kills” and declared the agency “not welcome” in the city[1][3]. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi was summoned to Parliament to answer questions and later clarified that ICE will be confined to diplomatic premises[1][4]. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani added that ICE personnel will not be armed and are not comparable to historical militias, reinforcing the limited, behind‑the‑scenes role[4][5].
Public Protest on Jan 31 Highlights Anti‑ICE Sentiment Hundreds gathered in Milan’s Piazza XXV Aprile on Jan 31, 2026, distributing plastic whistles and chanting anti‑ICE slogans such as “Never again means never again for anyone”[1]. Demonstrators included members of the Democratic Party, the CGIL trade‑union confederation and the ANPI resistance association[1]. The protest occurred days before the opening ceremony on Feb 6, which will be attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio[1].
Sources
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1.
AP: Milan protest targets U.S. ICE presence at 2026 Winter Olympics: Details the Jan 31 demonstration, mayor’s “militia” remark, ICE HSI’s limited consular role, and upcoming opening ceremony with JD Vance and Rubio.
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2.
Newsweek: Italy Confirms ICE Will Not Patrol Olympic Sites, Emphasizes Italian‑Led Security: Clarifies ICE will operate only within U.S. diplomatic premises, outlines Italy’s 6,000‑officer security plan and cites recent anti‑ICE protests.
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3.
AP: ICE’s HSI Unit Assigned to Support Security at Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Announces HSI deployment, control‑room location, mayor’s opposition, and overall host‑nation security responsibility.
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4.
BBC: ICE agents slated for Winter Olympics security, sparking Italian backlash: Confirms “strictly supportive” ICE role, Italian leaders’ rejection, and links to recent Minneapolis shootings.
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CNN: ICE agents set to assist U.S. security at Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympics amid Italian backlash: Reports DHS assurance of no immigration enforcement, interior minister’s diplomatic‑mission limit, and political criticism.
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WBNS: ICE’s HSI Unit Assigned to Security Role at 2026 Milan‑Cortina Olympics Sparks Italian Backlash: Highlights HSI’s investigative focus, mayor’s militia comment, and IOC’s host‑nation security stance.
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7.
King5: ICE’s HSI Unit Assigned to U.S. Delegation Security at Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympics: Describes HSI support, Italian opposition, and behind‑the‑scenes operations from the consulate.
Timeline
2022‑2024 – U.S. federal agencies assist security for recent Olympic Games (e.g., Beijing 2022, Paris 2024), establishing a precedent for American involvement in host‑nation security, though it remains unclear whether ICE participated in those events [1].
Jan 7, 2026 – An ICE officer fatally shoots Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests and heightening scrutiny of ICE’s tactics ahead of its planned Olympic role [1].
Jan 27, 2026 – The Department of Homeland Security announces that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents will support U.S. delegation security at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, explicitly stating that “ICE does not conduct immigration‑enforcement operations in foreign countries” [5][6][7].
Jan 27, 2026 – Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala condemns the deployment, declaring “ICE is a militia that kills… it is clear they are not welcome in Milan,” while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stresses the agents will not be armed and are not comparable to historic militias [6][7].
Jan 28, 2026 – U.S. officials clarify that HSI personnel will operate solely from a control room at the U.S. Consulate in Milan, with no street‑level presence, reinforcing the “non‑immigration” nature of the mission [5].
Jan 29, 2026 – Italy’s Interior Ministry confirms ICE will be confined to U.S. diplomatic premises, while approximately 6,000 Italian police, drones, aerial surveillance and a 24‑hour cybersecurity control room assume full security responsibility for the Games [3]; Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi meets U.S. Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta to finalize the arrangement [3].
Jan 31, 2026 – Hundreds gather in Milan’s Piazza XXV Aprile to protest ICE’s involvement, waving banners that read “No thank you, from Minnesota to the world” and “Never again means never again for anyone,” as Mayor Sala reiterates that the agents are “not welcome” and Interior Minister Piantedosi is summoned to Parliament [4].
Feb 6, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics open with an opening ceremony attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio; security operations remain under exclusive Italian control, with HSI agents working behind the scenes from the consular control room [4].