Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present in Italy during the Winter Olympic Games, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed. Italy\u2019s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that these agents will not be involved in maintaining public order. Milan\u2019s mayor has voiced strong opposition to the presence of ICE agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be in Italy during the Milan\u2013Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which begin in ten days. The information was confirmed to the press agency AFP by an ICE spokesperson, who emphasized that U.S. agents will have no authority in matters of public order or security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was specified that during the Olympics, the \u201cHomeland Security Investigations\u201d unit, ICE\u2019s investigative branch, will support the U.S. State Department\u2019s Diplomatic Security Service and cooperate with the host country in assessing and mitigating risks originating from transnational criminal organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tajani: Order and Security Are Solely Italy\u2019s Responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Italian government is attempting to ease tensions following news of the U.S. agents\u2019 arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani stated that ICE will not carry out any public order activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSecurity is guaranteed by Italy, and public order is maintained by our police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza. Sovereignty is not being ceded,\u201d Tajani said, adding that international cooperation is standard practice during major sporting events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him, U.S. officials will work in a joint operations room alongside representatives from other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey are unarmed, do not conduct inspections, and have no executive authority. This is about cooperation, not intervention,\u201d the Italian foreign minister stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interior Ministry: ICE Does Not Operate on Italian Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi also confirmed that ICE, as an agency, will not operate in Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLaw and public safety on Italian territory are guaranteed exclusively by the Italian state,\u201d Piantedosi said, announcing a meeting with the U.S. ambassador for further clarification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the U.S. embassy in Rome, as with previous Olympic Games, multiple federal agencies support the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, but all activities remain coordinated with the host country\u2019s authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Political Reactions and Milan Mayor\u2019s Opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite official explanations, reactions among the Italian public have been sharp. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala stated that ICE agents are a \u201cmilitia that kills and violates human rights\u201d and said they \u201care not welcome in Milan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His remarks have sparked protests from opposition parties and civil society organizations. An online petition has also been launched, calling on the government and Olympic organizing committee to exclude ICE\u2019s institutional presence. The petition has already been signed by over 15,000 citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Government: Controversy Is Political Instrumentalization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The government has described the controversy as unfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople with long guns are not patrolling the streets, they are not making decisions, they are not conducting inspections. These are a few officials cooperating within international frameworks,\u201d Tajani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He emphasized that the security of the Olympic Games is entirely in the hands of Italian institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEither people know what they are talking about, or they are acting emotionally. This is not the Minneapolis street police, and I was the strictest on that matter. SS forces are not coming to Italy,\u201d Tajani added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the Games set to begin in just ten days, the question of security has become one of the key political issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confirmation from the United States has put an end to speculation, but not to ongoing debates in the Italian public sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SERBIAN BISHOP GAVE A SPEECH BEFORE THE AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT: Irinej opened the \u201cMarch for Life\u201d with a prayer, then gave the podium to J.D. Vance! (VIDEO, PHOTO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH ORTHODOXY: Two daughters and a mother from Turkey were baptized in Trebinje, here are the names they took!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A SERB PLAYS THE GUITAR IN ROBBIE WILLIAMS\u2019 NEW HIT: Nikola guest starred on his new album at the personal request of the world pop star! (VIDEO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n