ICE agents at Milan–Cortina Olympics government confirms advisory role as Milan pushes back

 Rome-- The Italian government has confirmed that agents from the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present in Italy during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, insisting their role will be strictly investigative and non operational. The clarification follows days of conflicting statements and a meeting between Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and US ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the agents involved belong to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE’s investigative branch, and will not carry out immigration enforcement or public order duties. Their tasks will be limited to intelligence-sharing, database consultation and liaison work in support of Italian authorities during the Games. The United States will set up an operations room at its Milan consulate, hosting representatives of several American agencies, including HSI specialists. All security operations on Italian territory, the ministry stressed, will remain under the exclusive responsibility of Italian law enforcement.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sought to reassure the public, stating that public order during the Winter Olympics will be guaranteed solely by Italian forces. “On the streets you will only see the uniforms you already know: Carabinieri, State Police and the Guardia di Finanza,” he said, adding that the presence of foreign officers in control rooms for informational cooperation is standard practice at major international events.

The explanation has not quelled criticism from Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, who said ICE agents were “not welcome” in the city. Speaking on RTL 102.5, Sala criticised the agency’s conduct in the United States and questioned the government’s readiness to oppose Washington’s requests. A spokesperson for ICE confirmed to AFP that personnel would be in Italy to support the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and cooperate with the host country to counter risks linked to transnational crime, while reiterating that ICE would not conduct immigration operations abroad.

PS