ICE Agents at Milan Olympics? Italy Says 'Not Welcome' After Minneapolis Shooting

Just days after ICE agents fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, the US immigration agency announced it would send personnel to support security operations at Italy's Winter Olympics starting February 6th. The timing couldn't be worse—and Italy isn't having it.

"This is a militia that kills... of course they're not welcome in Milan," the city's mayor Beppe Sala told Italian radio on Tuesday, capturing the growing outrage across the country.

From Minneapolis Streets to Olympic Venues

The controversy erupted after Alex Pretti was shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. But the incident didn't end there—ICE officers then threatened two Italian journalists from public broadcaster Rai who were covering the agency's actions. One agent warned the crew their car window would be smashed if they continued filming.

Now those same agents want to work security at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

ICE tried to clarify its role Tuesday, stating that its Homeland Security Investigations unit would support the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service to "vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations." The agency emphasized it would "obviously" not conduct immigration enforcement operations outside the US.

But for many Italians, that distinction feels hollow when the images from Minneapolis are still fresh.

Italy's Sovereignty vs. Alliance Obligations

Interior Minister Matteo Pantedosi initially seemed caught off guard, saying foreign delegations choosing their own security was "very normal." But as public pressure mounted, he reversed course Monday, declaring that "ICE will certainly not operate on Italian national territory."

The pushback reflects deeper tensions about American law enforcement methods clashing with European democratic values. Milan's mayor put it bluntly: "I believe they shouldn't come to Italy because they don't guarantee they conform to our democratic way of ensuring security."

Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana attempted damage control, suggesting ICE agents would be deployed specifically to protect Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But opposition politicians like Five Star Senator Barbara Floridia saw the government's initial silence as "yet more evidence of cowardice and subservience towards Donald Trump."

The Broader Question of Olympic Security

This isn't just about ICE—it's about who controls security at international events. Various US federal agencies have worked at previous Olympics, but the current controversy highlights how law enforcement tactics that might be acceptable domestically can become diplomatic flashpoints abroad.

The US embassy had already explained that multiple federal agencies typically participate in Olympic security. But with Trump's immigration crackdown intensifying and images of aggressive enforcement tactics spreading globally, what was once routine cooperation now looks like potential overreach.