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By Jasmine Laws
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Italy has issued an update regarding its security plans for the 2026 Winter Olympics, emphasizing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will have no role "on the ground."
Italy's Interior Ministry said in a statement that ICE's investigative body—and "not the operational arm of the agency"—would work only within U.S. diplomatic offices, such as the U.S. Consulate in Milan.
"All security operations on Italian territory remain, as always, under the exclusive responsibility and direction of the Italian authorities," the ministry said.
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Newsweek has contacted ICE and the office of Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Public upset regarding the actions of ICE agents in the U.S. has increased in recent weeks, with protests happening throughout the country—particularly in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
The fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis acted as catalysts for ongoing public resentment against ICE agents, who have been carrying out hundreds of arrests as part of the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.
The events have raised concerns beyond U.S. borders. Americans in Paris held an anti-ICE protest on Wednesday. Germany has issued a travel advisory, telling its citizens, "In Minneapolis and other cities, demonstrations sometimes lead to violent clashes with the migration and security authorities." And earlier this week, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE agents were "not welcome." He told the Italian radio station RTL 102.5, "This is a militia that kills."
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What To Know
Agents who are part of the investigative arm of ICE, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), are present in over 50 countries and have been in Italy for a number of years.
According to HSI's website, the operations conducted by the agents in other nations "collect evidence; arrest criminals; seize drugs, money, weapons, and other items; stop threats from traveling to the United States; and conduct other activities to protect the public from those seeking to harm our country."
As it is not new that ICE agents who are part of HSI will be working within U.S. diplomatic offices during the Olympics, the update reemphasizes that their presence does not mean ICE agents will have any role in the country's on-the-ground security operations ahead of the Winter Games.
As part of a meeting chaired by Piantedosi on Tuesday to discuss the security measures in place of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, it was said that about 6,000 law enforcement officers would guard multiple Olympic sites.
Drones and aerial surveillance devices would also be used, and for the first time at a major event in Italy, there would also be a 24‑hour cybersecurity control room, Reuters reported.
On Wednesday, Piantedosi also spoke with Tilman J. Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino, to affirm the U.S.-Italy security cooperation for the event.
A release on the website for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy said that during the Olympics, HSI criminal investigators would "contribute their expertise by providing intelligence on transnational criminal threats, with a focus on cybercrimes and national security threats."
"HSI's role at the Olympics will be strictly advisory and intelligence-based, with no patrolling or enforcement involvement," the embassy added. "All security operations will remain the responsibility of Italian authorities."
What People Are Saying
Tilman J. Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino, said in a statement on Wednesday: "I want to thank Minister of Interior Piantedosi for our meeting yesterday and for the statement his Ministry released clarifying the important security work that will be done by the Homeland Security Investigations agency at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to work together on this, and I look forward to cheering at the games and enjoying a successful Winter Olympics together with our Italian friends."
Italy's Interior Ministry said in a statement, translated into English: "It should be reiterated that the investigators of the Homeland Security Investigation will not be represented by operational personnel such as those engaged in migration controls in U.S. territory, but by referents exclusively specialized in investigations, without any attribution on the Italian territory and mainly responsible for consulting their databases and supporting the other actors involved."
What Happens Next
The 2026 Winter Olympics is taking place in Milan and Cortina from February 6 to 22.
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