US EditionItaly Unveils Comprehensive Security Plan for Winter Olympics Amid ICE Involvement Controversy
The US ICE Homeland Security Investigations unit will advise on transnational threats including cybercrime and human smuggling without enforcement powers during the Winter Olympics.
- On Wednesday, Washington's ambassador to Rome Tilman J. Fertitta said HSI will be strictly advisory and intelligence-based with no enforcement role, with all security handled by Italian authorities.
- News of the deployment for the Milan-Cortina Games from Feb 6-22 has sparked anger in Italy after HSI/ICE's involvement in an often brutal crackdown in the US, and Italy's political opposition has asked the government to refuse the deployment with protests expected in Rome and Milan.
- Fertitta said the HSI focuses on cross-border crime including human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, child exploitation, financial crimes, intellectual property theft and recovering stolen art.
- US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected at the opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium on Feb 6, while agents accused of violence are from a different ICE division.
- Italian authorities initially denied speculation that ICE would be present then downplayed their role, and the deployment this week ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics could heighten diplomatic and domestic tensions.
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18 Articles
Will ICE handle security at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy?
On 27 January, the US's controversial ICE agency said that its investigative arm would be involved in security-related support for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The announcement sparked political protests, but what's the truth behind the outrage?
Colbert Hypes Italian Communist Demanding ICE Not Go To The Olympics
CBS’s Stephen Colbert did not adequately do his pre-show research on Thursday. During his monologue, The Late Show host hyped Italian politicians demanding ICE “thugs” not be let into the country for security purposes during the Olympics. However, Colbert did not mention the politician using the “thug” label is basically a communist. Later, Colbert would welcome MS NOW’s Jacob Soboroff to continue lamenting all things immigration enforcement. Am…
The presence of American agents during the Winter Olympics is met with demonstrations in Milan.
Italy Unveils Comprehensive Security Plan for Winter Olympics Amid ICE Involvement Controversy
Italy Unveils Comprehensive Security Plan for Winter Olympics Amid ICE Involvement Controversy Italy has announced an extensive security plan for the upcoming Winter Olympics, emphasizing national command over operations following news of U.S. ICE's advisory role. The Games, set to take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, will pose significant security challenges for the nation.Hosting approximately 3,500 athletes from February 6 to February 2…
The ICE agents, who will be in Italy for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, will not patrol in Italy. The announcement of their arrival caused a strong emotion among our neighbours. - "Not welcome in Milan", ICE agents will not patrol during the Winter Olympics (Olympic and Paralympic Games).
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