ICE Agents To Assist US Security At Winter Olympics In Italy

Agents of the controversial US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will assist with American security operations at next month’s Winter Olympic Games in Italy, according to an AFP report.

The agency said its involvement would be limited to security-related duties in support of US officials attending the Games.

“At the Olympics, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is supporting the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations,” the agency said in a statement.

It stressed that, “All security operations remain under Italian authority,” adding that “Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries.”

News of ICE’s possible presence at the February 6–22 Games has sparked widespread debate in Italy, coming amid heightened tensions over the agency’s activities in the United States.

Italian authorities initially denied reports that ICE agents would be deployed for the Olympics but later appeared to downplay their role, saying their involvement would be restricted to security for the US delegation.

US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were expected to attend the opening ceremony in Milan on February 6.

On Monday, the president of Italy’s northern Lombardy region, where some Olympic events will be held, said ICE’s role would be limited to monitoring the movements of Vance and Rubio.

“It will be only in a defensive role, but I am convinced that nothing will happen,” Attilio Fontana told reporters.

However, his office later clarified that Fontana did not have confirmed information on ICE’s presence and had been responding to a hypothetical question.

ICE has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following its deployment across several US cities under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The operations have triggered widespread protests, particularly after the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both aged 37, during enforcement actions in Minneapolis.