Italy’s foreign minister scrambles to justify ICE deployment to the Winter Olympics. Local leaders are furious

Local Italian leaders are furious about US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents coming to the Winter Olympics in Milan next month. The backlash has created serious diplomatic problems between the two countries. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala made it clear that authorities don’t need ICE agents for Olympic security. 

According to CNN, he said they’re not welcome in Milan and called the agency “a militia that kills.” Sala questioned whether Italy could say no to President Trump, but he believes the agents shouldn’t come because they don’t match Italy’s democratic security methods.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged the current government to step in right away. He told leaders to “set our own limits” and make clear decisions about the US presence. He pointed to reports about ICE agents ensuring “security” and said, “We cannot allow this.” Politician Carlo Calenda warned that ICE agents “must not set foot in Italy” because he sees them as a “violent, unprepared, and out-of-control militia.”

Italy’s concerns stem from recent violent incidents in the US

The worry comes from President Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has been linked to recent fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis by federal law enforcement. This has made people look more closely at how ICE uses force, making Italian leaders very cautious about having them in Europe. Critics have even compared ICE to the American Gestapo due to their aggressive tactics.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tried to calm the situation. He went on Italian radio to explain that the agents won’t patrol the streets but will work in operations rooms. He made a surprising comparison, saying, “It’s not like the SS are coming.” He stressed that the agents are from a unit that handles counterterrorism, not the staff who usually deal with immigration controls.

US officials defended the decision, saying federal agencies often help with US security operations for diplomats at the Olympic Games. They confirmed that ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit will handle security tasks. A US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said they don’t conduct immigration enforcement in foreign countries. 

They’re supporting the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host country to check and reduce risks from international criminal groups. The Italian Interior Ministry confirmed that only ICE’s investigative arm, not the operational arm, will be there. The agency will work only within diplomatic missions and not on the ground. 

Back in the US, ICE agents have targeted schools and daycares, drawing outrage from parents. All security operations will remain under Italian control, meaning Italy is still in charge. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said they work with the Diplomatic Security Service, the International Olympic Committee, and the host country. 

They don’t work with US domestic law enforcement or immigration agencies like ICE for the Games. The Diplomatic Security Service will only advise and won’t conduct law enforcement, immigration, or policing in Italy. Despite these explanations, Americans living in Milan are confused and worried about the US reputation under President Trump’s policies. One resident asked, “I’m so confused, why on earth would ICE agents come to Italy? They don’t have jurisdiction here.”