‘A militia that kills’: uproar in Italy over ICE security role at Winter Olympics

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Angela Giuffrida in Rome and Jakub KrupaJanuary 27, 2026 at 02:23 PM

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A unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will participate in security for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, sparking controversy. ICE confirmed that its Homeland Security Investigations division will support the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service by vetting and mitigating risks from transnational criminal organizations, with all security operations remaining under Italian authority. Speculation about ICE's involvement grew after reports that ICE agents would protect U.S. officials, including the Vice President. The deployment has drawn criticism due to ICE's immigration enforcement record and recent fatal shootings in the U.S., with some Italian officials and parties expressing opposition and launching petitions to block ICE's participation. Concerns center on ICE's alignment with Italian democratic security methods and human rights standards.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Attilio Fontana 40% Giuseppe Sala 40% Marco Rubio 40% JD Vance 40% Donald Trump ×250% Milan ×260% United States ×370% Winter Olympic Games ×370% Italy ×580% Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ×890%

Keywords

ice 100% winter olympics 90% security role 80% immigration enforcement 70% diplomatic security 60% us embassy 60% italy 50% transnational criminal organizations 40%