The 2026 Milan-Cortino Winter Olympics are scheduled to open on February 6th, but news of the delayed involvement of ICE came as a shock.
Published January 27, 2026
The United States plans to support U.S. security efforts ahead of next month’s Winter Olympics in Italy, a spokesperson told AFP.
“At the Olympics, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is assisting the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host nation in vetting and mitigating risks posed by transnational criminal organizations,” the agency said in a statement.
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“All security operations remain under Italian authority.”
He added: “It is clear that ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries.”
The possibility of ICE agents participating in the Milan-Cortina rally, which will be held from February 6 to 22, has sparked much debate in Italy in response to protests over the deaths of two civilians during a crackdown on migrants in Minneapolis.
Italian authorities initially denied ICE’s existence, but later sought to downplay its role, suggesting its agents were only helping ensure the safety of the U.S. delegation.
The opening ceremony, to be held in Milan on February 6th, will be attended by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
On Monday, the president of the northern region of Lombardy, which hosts several Olympic sports, said ICE’s involvement would be limited to monitoring Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio.
“He will only have a defensive role, but I’m sure nothing will happen,” Attilio Fontana told reporters.
But his office later issued a statement saying he had no information about their existence but was answering hypothetical questions.
Thousands of ICE agents have been dispatched by President Donald Trump to various U.S. cities to crack down on illegal immigration.
Their actions sparked widespread protests, and the recent killings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Preti, both 37, on the streets of Minneapolis sparked outrage.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in the United States, and the competition will be held in Los Angeles.
