Outrage in Italy as U.S. ICE Presence Casts Shadow Over Winter Olympics Opening

Milan’s Streets Stir Before the Games Begin

MILAN In the days leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, another event is unfolding on the streets of Milan. What should be a time of celebration and global unity has instead become a flashpoint of protest after news that U.S. federal agents linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, would be in Italy during the Games.

It may seem foreign to South Africans not used to debates over U.S. immigration enforcement, but here in Italy the issue has struck a nerve.

Not Enforcement But Intelligence

Italy’s government has been at pains to clarify what these American agents will actually be doing. Officials say the ICE personnel are there to share intelligence and support broader security efforts, not to police streets or carry guns. That has not quieted critics.

Still, this distinction matters in a country with deep memories of fascism and resistance. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, did not mince words, publicly calling the agency “a militia that kills” because of its reputation back in the United States.

Protesters Take to Piazzale Leonardo da Vinci

Hundreds of demonstrators – many of them young people and students – gathered near the city’s university hub, holding signs and chanting against the presence of U.S. federal agents. Some also criticised disruptions to city life caused by security measures, including school closures and traffic restrictions around key Olympic venues.

The protests have been largely peaceful, yet their symbolism is potent. Milan, a city that lived through wartime occupation and later economic rebirth, is asserting its identity as an open, civil society. Many locals see the idea of ICE’s presence at all as incompatible with that image.

How This Became an International Issue

The backlash in Italy reflects wider global perceptions of ICE. Over recent weeks in the United States, the agency’s enforcement operations have sparked intense scrutiny after fatal shootings by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. These incidents triggered major domestic protests and political debate about ICE’s role and tactics.

That U.S. domestic controversy has now spilled into a global sports stage. It’s an unusual twist for an Olympics that Italy hoped would highlight alpine heritage, urban flair, and a spirit of friendly competition.

Rome Seeks Calm

Despite vocal protest, Italian national leaders have sought to play down the row. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with U.S. officials on the sidelines of Olympic events to stress ongoing cooperation and mutual respect. She reiterated that the ICE personnel in Milan have limited roles and no policing authority under Italian law.

Still, in city squares and on social media platforms in Italy, the debate continues, underscoring a broader tension over global security, sovereignty, and how nations project power far from home.

{Source:EWN}

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