As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approach, the primary discussion in Italy revolves not around sports, but security. Reports concerning the involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Games have led to considerable public outcry, given the agency’s controversial history in the United States, marked by incidents of chaos, violence, and fatalities.
Last week, the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The New York Times ICE’s participation with a US delegation. A statement from DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin clarified that ICE’s role would be to collaborate with a State Department team to “vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations,” explicitly stating they would not be conducting immigration enforcement.
US officials maintain that such security arrangements are standard for the Olympic Games and emphasized that Italy retains overall control of security operations. However, recent shooting deaths involving US immigration agents, such as Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, have fueled Italian public discontent regarding ICE’s presence. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, publicly stated that the agents were “not welcome” in the city.
Other Italian officials offered less definitive stances. Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, “claimed” no prior knowledge of ICE’s presence in Milan but indicated he saw no issues with it. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has remained silent on the matter.
In response, “hundreds gathered” in Milan’s Piazza XXV Aprile to protest ICE’s involvement, displaying signs with messages like “No ICE in Milano” and “ICE Out Now.”
ICE is not expected to work directly with Italian law enforcement, which plans to deploy over 6,000 personnel. Instead, ICE’s focus will be on protecting the US contingent, which includes figures like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This suggests their operatives are likely to be in a more formal, diplomatic capacity rather than in agents in “masks and military gear.”
ICE is not the only international security force causing controversy in Italy for the Olympics. On January 27, a cargo plane arrived at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, carrying over a hundred Qatari public security officers, 20 camouflage SUVs, and three snowmobiles. These vehicles were subsequently seen driving through central Milan, including past Piazza Duomo and San Siro, the venue for the opening ceremony.
Despite Qatar having no athletes competing in the Winter Games, the presence of its elite security team is a result of a cooperation agreement “signed” last September by Interior Minister Piantedosi during a visit to Qatar. This security force has been “tasked with” “monitoring locations, providing rapid response capabilities, and supporting preventive measures against potential security risks.” However, this arrangement has drawn criticism due to past accusations of abuse against Qatari security forces, particularly concerning “the LGBTQ+ community.”
Requests for comment from the Italian diplomatic offices of Qatar and the Italian Ministry of the Interior went unanswered by WIRED Italia.
