Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Milan on Saturday to protest plans for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to support security operations at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, drawing criticism from citizens and local leaders alike.
The demonstration in Piazza XXV Aprile saw crowds of Italians, including families and trade union members, carrying banners and blowing whistles to express opposition to the planned deployment of ICE personnel during the Games, which run from 6 to 22 February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Protesters waved signs comparing ICE to oppressive forces and linked their opposition to broader concerns about human rights and enforcement tactics used by the agency in the United States. The planned participation of ICE came under scrutiny especially after recent controversial shootings and enforcement actions by U.S. agents, which have triggered national and international criticism.
Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has publicly condemned the proposed role of ICE agents, describing the agency as “a militia that kills” and saying agents would not be welcome in his city. Italian officials and opposition figures have argued that the presence of a U.S. federal agency known for its tough domestic enforcement record would be inappropriate on Italian soil.
U.S. embassy sources clarified that the ICE personnel would be part of broader U.S. security support for visiting officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and would operate in a non-enforcement, intelligence-focused capacity rather than on the streets. Italy’s Interior Ministry has also emphasised that all Olympic security operations remain under Italian authority.
Despite those assurances, the controversy has sparked wider debate in Italy about foreign security involvement and concerns tied to civil liberties and policing practices. With the Olympics less than a week away, further protests and political scrutiny are expected as preparations continue.
U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to China from 31 March to 2 April, the White House has confirmed, for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping ...
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday that its life‑saving food and nutrition assistance in Somalia could end by April without u...
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 ...
UK politicians have renewed calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, to be removed from the line of succession following his arre...
Hungary announced on Friday it was blocking a €90 billion ($106 billion) European Union loan intended to support Ukraine’s 2026–2027 budget and ...
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday that its life‑saving food and nutrition assistance in Somalia could end by April without urgent funding, leaving millions at risk of severe hunger.
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
UK politicians have renewed calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, to be removed from the line of succession following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and revelations over his links to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Hungary announced on Friday it was blocking a €90 billion ($106 billion) European Union loan intended to support Ukraine’s 2026–2027 budget and military needs, citing disruptions to Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
The Board of Peace will be "looking over the United Nations," said U.S. President Donald Trump at the inaugural Washington meeting, where representatives from over 20 countries gathered to unveil plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and coordinate international support.
At least four people have died and 17 others were injured after a liquid gas truck overturned and exploded in Santiago, Chile’s capital, authorities confirmed on Thursday. Police said the driver was among those killed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in the Kremlin on Wednesday, telling him that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were unacceptable.
The Board of Peace is entering uncharted territory, with questions over its ability to manage Gaza reconstruction, its potential to rival the United Nations, and its impact on strategic allies in the Middle East and South Caucasus.
U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to China from 31 March to 2 April, the White House has confirmed, for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a U.S. Supreme Court ruling reshapes his tariff policy.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday that its life‑saving food and nutrition assistance in Somalia could end by April without urgent funding, leaving millions at risk of severe hunger.
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
UK politicians have renewed calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, to be removed from the line of succession following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and revelations over his links to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Hungary announced on Friday it was blocking a €90 billion ($106 billion) European Union loan intended to support Ukraine’s 2026–2027 budget and military needs, citing disruptions to Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment