Italy Dismisses Concerns Over ICE Role at 2026 Olympics

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Italy's interior minister Matteo Piantedosi has dismissed concerns over the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel at the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, stating that ICE agents will only be working out of U.S. diplomatic missions and will not conduct any policing on Italian streets. Piantedosi said the presence of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division stems from a 2014 bilateral agreement and is not a sudden or unilateral attempt to restrict Italy's national sovereignty.

Why it matters

The presence of ICE agents at the Olympics had sparked outrage among Italian politicians, particularly from center-left opposition parties, following controversies over ICE's enforcement actions in the U.S. The minister's comments aim to allay these concerns and assure the public that ICE's role will be limited to working within U.S. diplomatic facilities.

The details

Piantedosi told parliament that only operatives from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division will be present, and they will not conduct any policing on Italian streets. He said Italy has drawn up a massive security plan for the Games, dispatching 6,000 police officers ranging from bomb squads to anti-terror operatives, and that the country will not deviate from ensuring safety and public order.

• The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6-22, 2026.
• Piantedosi made his comments to parliament on February 4, 2026, two days before the opening ceremony.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Italian government will continue to work on its comprehensive security plan for the 2026 Olympics, which will involve deploying thousands of police officers to ensure public safety and order during the event.