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.
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