ICE Agents to Support Diplomatic Security at Milan‑Cortina Games Amid Mayor’s Opposition
Updated (3 articles)
ICE Assigned to Diplomatic Security for Milan‑Cortina Games ICE agents will support diplomatic security details during the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, according to sources at the U.S. embassy in Rome [2]. The assignment was confirmed on Tuesday and explicitly excludes any immigration‑enforcement duties, mirroring the role of Homeland Security Investigations in prior Olympics [2]. Personnel are prohibited from speaking publicly about the mission, reinforcing the limited scope of their involvement [2].
Mayor Giuseppe Sala Declares ICE Unwelcome in Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told RTL 102.5 that ICE officers are “not welcome” in Milan, calling the agency a “militia that kills” and urging citizens to “say no to Trump” [1][2]. His comments were made as the city finalizes security preparations for the Games, highlighting strong local political resistance. Both outlets reported the mayor’s statement, underscoring the tension between municipal leadership and the planned federal presence [1][2].
Italian Interior Minister Reports No Formal Confirmation Yet Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said he has not received official confirmation of ICE’s role in the Games, but added he “doesn’t see what the problem would be” [2]. The remark signals uncertainty within the Italian government while indicating no legal obstacle to the deployment. No formal objection has been recorded, leaving the issue unresolved pending further clarification [2].
Recent ICE Controversies Heighten Public Scrutiny Ahead of Olympics series of high‑profile ICE incidents in the United States have intensified criticism of the agency’s involvement in Italy. An ICE officer shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minnesota, a case the Department of Homeland Security labeled self‑defense, though witnesses dispute that narrative [1]. The earlier fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis is also cited as part of a pattern of lethal encounters [1]. Operation Metro Surge, launched in December, has generated hundreds of arrests in the Twin Cities, adding to the controversy [1]. State broadcaster RAI aired footage of ICE agents threatening a crew in Minneapolis, providing visual evidence that fuels opposition to the agency’s presence at the Games [2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
Newsweek: Milan Mayor Bars ICE Agents from Winter Olympics: Reports Mayor Sala’s condemnation of ICE, links the agency to recent fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, and frames the opposition within broader anti‑Trump sentiment and Operation Metro Surge controversies .
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[2]
Associated Press: ICE Agents Assigned to Diplomatic Security for Milan‑Cortina 2026 Games: Details the limited diplomatic‑security role of ICE agents, notes the mayor’s rejection, cites the interior minister’s lack of formal confirmation, and highlights RAI footage of ICE threatening a crew in Minneapolis .
Timeline
2000s – early 2010s – ICE’s investigative arm, Homeland Security Investigations, assists U.S. diplomatic security at past Olympic Games, establishing a precedent for limited ICE involvement in future events [2].
Dec 2025 – The Trump administration launches Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration‑enforcement push that triggers hundreds of arrests in the Minneapolis‑St. Paul area [1].
Late 2025 – ICE officer kills Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, adding to a pattern of lethal incidents involving the agency [1].
Jan 8, 2026 – A 55‑year‑old guard dies of a heart attack during a frigid overnight shift at a construction site near Cortina d’Ampezzo’s ice arena; temperatures plunge to ‑12 °C [3].
Early Jan 2026 – ICE agent shoots 37‑year‑old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minnesota; the Department of Homeland Security claims self‑defense, but witnesses and video evidence dispute the account [1].
Jan 11, 2026 – Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini orders a full investigation into the guard’s death, signaling heightened scrutiny ahead of the Games [3].
Jan 24, 2026 – Italian state TV RAI airs footage of ICE agents threatening to break a vehicle’s glass while a RAI crew reports in Minneapolis, intensifying controversy over ICE’s role [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala tells RTL 102.5 that ICE agents are “not welcome” in Milan, calls them “a militia that kills,” and urges “say no to Trump,” linking local opposition to national anti‑Trump sentiment [1].
Jan 27, 2026 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirms that its agents will support diplomatic security details at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, explicitly excluding immigration‑enforcement duties [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi says he has not received formal confirmation of ICE’s role but sees no problem with the agency’s limited participation [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – The Associated Press reports that ICE personnel assigned to the Games will assist diplomatic security and will not conduct immigration checks, clarifying the agency’s operational scope [1].
Feb 6‑22, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled, with Cortina hosting curling, sliding events and women’s Alpine skiing, marking the culmination of security preparations and ongoing controversies [3].