This photo shows the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events which will take place during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.
News that a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit will support security during the Winter Olympics has stirred confusion and anger in Italy. Reports suggesting that ICE officers would be deployed for the Games prompted sharp political reactions and public protests, especially given the agency’s role in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Initial media coverage failed to clearly distinguish between ICE’s different divisions. That gap fueled fears that immigration enforcement officers would operate on Italian soil during the Olympics.
Confusion over ICE role at Winter Olympics
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later clarified that the officers involved belong to Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI. This unit focuses on cross-border crime, not deportations.
HSI agents regularly assist with security at major international events, including previous Olympic Games. Officials stressed that no officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations, the ICE arm leading deportations, would be sent to Italy.
Despite these assurances, the clarification came after widespread concern had already taken hold.
Italy reacts to ICE deployment reports
Public reaction in Italy was swift and intense. Online petitions opposing ICE’s presence gathered thousands of signatures within days.
The backlash followed vague weekend reports and a national broadcaster’s story showing ICE agents threatening an Italian news crew in Minneapolis. The report aired amid heightened tensions in the United States over immigration enforcement actions.
Those developments shaped Italian perceptions, even before official explanations emerged.
Milan mayor rejects ICE presence
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala voiced the strongest criticism. Milan will host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 6.
Speaking to RTL Radio 102, Sala said ICE would not be welcome in his city. He described the agency as violent and incompatible with Milan’s values.
His remarks reflected broader unease across parts of Europe over U.S. immigration policies under Trump’s second term.
Italian government clarifies security arrangement
Italy’s Interior Ministry moved quickly to calm tensions. It said HSI agents would operate from a control room at the U.S. Consulate in Milan.
Their role would be limited to technical support alongside other U.S. agencies. They would not participate in immigration controls or street-level operations.
The ministry emphasized that HSI has operated in Italy for years. It added that all Olympic security decisions remain under Italian authority.
Understanding ICE’s internal divisions
ICE operates through multiple branches. Enforcement and Removal Operations handles arrests and deportations of undocumented migrants inside the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations is different. HSI focuses on crimes with international links, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and financial crimes.
HSI agents are stationed in more than 50 countries. They often work from embassies to coordinate with local police forces.
U.S. officials downplay visibility of agents
U.S. officials said the public is unlikely to notice HSI agents during the Winter Olympics. Most work will happen behind the scenes.
Their duties include intelligence sharing and risk assessment. They will support the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and Italian authorities.
“ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement in foreign countries,” Homeland Security said in a statement.
HSI’s evolving role under Trump
For years, HSI sought to distance itself from deportation efforts. The unit even rebranded internal communications to avoid association with ICE enforcement.
Under the Trump administration, that separation has narrowed. HSI agents now cooperate more closely with deportation officers on immigration-related cases.
That shift has complicated public understanding of the agency’s role abroad.
Olympic security remains Italian-led
The International Olympic Committee reaffirmed that Olympic security is the host nation’s responsibility. It said host authorities work with participating delegations as needed.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also clarified its position. It said it coordinates security planning through diplomatic channels, not domestic law enforcement agencies.
Italy plans to deploy more than 6,000 police officers and security agents. The Games will span seven locations across northern Italy, making them the most geographically spread in Olympic history.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Italy’s top security official, sought to ease tensions. Asked earlier about ICE involvement, he said he saw no issue.
The controversy, however, has highlighted strained U.S.-Europe relations and the sensitivity surrounding ICE’s global image.
