ICE agents have no operational police role in Winter Olympics: Italy

‘We won’t see anything on national territory that resembles what’s been seen in the US,’ Italy’s interior minister says.Published On 4 Feb 2026Agents from the divisive United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will have no operational role in the Winter Olympics, Italy’s interior minister has said days before the Milan-Cortina Games open.ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is a separate investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the department carrying out the US immigration crackdown, will operate within US diplomatic missions only and “are not operational agents” and “have no executive function”, Matteo Piantedosi told the Italian Parliament on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3A complete guide to the Winter Olympics 2026 in Milan-Cortinalist 2 of 3A long time coming: Italy to make World Cup cricket debut on February 9list 3 of 3All to know about the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 stadiumsend of listHe said the outrage over the HSI presence, including the Milan mayor’s warning that they were not welcome in the city during the February 6-22 Winter Games, was “completely unfounded”.“ICE does not and will never be able to carry out operational police activities on our national territory,” Piantedosi said.The minister aimed to clarify the news of the contentious deployment of ICE agents, which prompted protests in the Italian metropolis.“Security and public order are ensured exclusively by our police forces,” he said.“During the Milan-Cortina Games, the members of this agency will be engaged solely in analysis and information exchange with the Italian authorities,” he added.“The presence of personnel linked to the ICE agency is certainly not a sudden and unilateral initiative to undermine our national sovereignty, as some have portrayed, but rather compliance with a legally binding international agreement entered into by Italy.”