After extensive coverage in Minnesota regarding the implementation of the Trump administration’s immigration policies by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security announced that an ICE unit will be deployed to Italy for the Winter Olympics. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division (HSI) will assist the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security on social media.
The news of the ICE unit’s participation in the Games, starting on Feb. 6, has sparked controversy in Italy. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala expressed his opposition to ICE’s presence in his city, which is hosting the opening ceremony and most ice sports. Sala criticized ICE, calling it a militia that infringes on people’s rights and stated that they are not welcome in Milan.
It is not uncommon for ICE to contribute to security measures for U.S. delegations at international events. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit under ICE focusing on cross-border crimes, often sends its officers abroad to support security efforts. These HSI officers are distinct from the Enforcement and Removal Operations arm involved in immigration enforcement within the U.S., indicating that ERO officers are not part of the deployment to Italy.
ICE’s involvement in major sports events, both domestically and internationally, including previous Olympic Games, is not new. This participation is part of international partnerships addressing issues like human trafficking and drug smuggling. Recent incidents in Minnesota highlighting ICE activities and concerns about its presence have raised public awareness and opposition to its involvement outside the U.S.
In response to reports of ICE deployment during the Olympics in Italy, online petitions have been initiated by opposition groups to protest ICE’s presence at the Milano-Cortina Games. The HSI investigators stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Milan will collaborate with other U.S. law enforcement agencies from a control room, focusing on cross-border investigations ranging from human smuggling to drug trafficking.
The ICE agents dispatched to Italy for the Milano-Cortina Games will have a different mandate compared to their immigration enforcement roles in the U.S. They will primarily support the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host nation in addressing risks related to transnational criminal activities, with security operations under Italian jurisdiction.
Apart from Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement consists of two additional directorates: the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor and Management and Administration. The former manages legal services for ICE programs and office, litigating immigration removal cases, while the latter oversees administrative functions.