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Milan Today
By the People, for the People
Protests Erupt Over ICE Presence at Milan Olympics
Italians voice outrage over U.S. immigration agency's involvement in Winter Games security
Published on Feb. 17, 2026
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Protests have swept through Milan in response to the presence of agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency at the upcoming Winter Olympics. The backlash stems from ICE's history of violence and abuse, including recent incidents in Minneapolis. While ICE's international division will be involved, not the domestic Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit, many Italians see the agency's involvement as a symbol of the Trump administration's policies and overreach.
Why it matters
The protests highlight the global condemnation of ICE's actions and the agency's association with the Trump administration's hardline immigration stance. Even American athletes have expressed heartbreak over the state of the U.S., underscoring the damage ICE has done to America's reputation abroad.
The details
ICE's international division, Homeland Security Investigations, will be providing intelligence and monitoring transnational crime at the Olympics, not the domestic ERO unit responsible for arrests and deportations. However, ICE's overall reputation for abuse has left a 'sour taste' with many Europeans, who see the agency's presence as a symbol of Trump-era policies. Milan's mayor has made clear ICE is 'not welcome,' and hundreds of Italians have protested the agency's involvement.
- The protests in Milan began in February 2026 ahead of the Winter Olympics.
The players
Giuseppe Sala
The mayor of Milan who has stated that ICE is 'not welcome in Milan.'
Matteo Piantedosi
Italy's Interior Minister who has said that ICE agents 'have no capacity whatsoever, nor any authority, to operate in Italy' and that 'their involvement is limited to analysis and information exchange with Italian authorities.'
Renée Good
A person murdered by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti
A person murdered by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Hunter Hess
An American freestyle halfpipe skier competing in the Winter Olympics who said 'wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.'
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)
The takeaway
The protests in Milan over ICE's presence at the Winter Olympics reflect the global condemnation of the agency's history of abuse and its association with the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies. Even American athletes have expressed heartbreak over the state of the U.S., underscoring the damage ICE has done to America's reputation abroad.
