Italian outrage has erupted over the revelation that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will play a role in U.S. security at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, Cortina, and other locations across Italy.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit, which focuses on transnational crime and global trade issues, will be involved in vetting and mitigating risks from transnational criminal organizations at the games starting next week. However, the Italian public is livid over this news, with many politicians and media outlets labeling ICE as a "militia that kills".
Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala has publicly stated that ICE agents are not welcome in Milan, describing them as "a militia that kills" and saying it was unacceptable to think of an agency like ICE having any role in the country. Similarly, Alessandro Zan, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote that entrusting Olympics security to those who operate with violence and kill innocent people is paradoxical.
The situation has sparked concerns among Italian officials and lawmakers, with some formally requesting clarification from the government on how Italian and European Union privacy and cybersecurity standards will be complied with. The controversy began when an anonymous source in Italy reported ICE's role at the games, citing this would lead to outrage in Italy given its history of immigration crackdowns.
As a result, there is growing distrust between ICE agents and local authorities over the potential presence of these U.S. law enforcement officers. In response to the news, Milan's mayor called on his countrymen not to welcome Trump-era ICE agents, emphasizing that security must be maintained within democratic parameters rather than by an agency notorious for human rights abuses.
Italian officials have tried to reassure the public but have largely failed to allay concerns about U.S. involvement in securing Italy's games. Italian citizens remain unconvinced that their domestic security could ever rest on foreign shoulders, given historical fears of being targeted and exploited by such foreign entities.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit, which focuses on transnational crime and global trade issues, will be involved in vetting and mitigating risks from transnational criminal organizations at the games starting next week. However, the Italian public is livid over this news, with many politicians and media outlets labeling ICE as a "militia that kills".
Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala has publicly stated that ICE agents are not welcome in Milan, describing them as "a militia that kills" and saying it was unacceptable to think of an agency like ICE having any role in the country. Similarly, Alessandro Zan, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote that entrusting Olympics security to those who operate with violence and kill innocent people is paradoxical.
The situation has sparked concerns among Italian officials and lawmakers, with some formally requesting clarification from the government on how Italian and European Union privacy and cybersecurity standards will be complied with. The controversy began when an anonymous source in Italy reported ICE's role at the games, citing this would lead to outrage in Italy given its history of immigration crackdowns.
As a result, there is growing distrust between ICE agents and local authorities over the potential presence of these U.S. law enforcement officers. In response to the news, Milan's mayor called on his countrymen not to welcome Trump-era ICE agents, emphasizing that security must be maintained within democratic parameters rather than by an agency notorious for human rights abuses.
Italian officials have tried to reassure the public but have largely failed to allay concerns about U.S. involvement in securing Italy's games. Italian citizens remain unconvinced that their domestic security could ever rest on foreign shoulders, given historical fears of being targeted and exploited by such foreign entities.
I gotta say, this is a big deal for Italy. I mean, they're already super paranoid about their privacy and stuff, and then you throw in some American law enforcement who's got a bad rep? 
It's not surprising that the mayor is saying no to ICE agents showing up at the Olympics. I don't blame him, really. The whole thing feels like an invasion of sorts, you know? 
And yeah, it's weird that they'd even consider using ICE for security in the first place. Have they thought about how this would affect tourism or something? 
Either way, I think it's safe to say that the Italian people are not having it 
I don't get why Italians are so worked up about this. Like, isn't the Olympics just a sports thing? Can't they just chill for 2 weeks? It's not like ICE is invading Italy or anything... 
They need to calm down and not be so quick to judge. I mean, we all know that Italy has its own issues with immigration and security, but do they really think the US is going to drop everything to help out just because some politicians are mad? 
It's just common sense, you know? Use your own agency to handle security, don't rely on someone else. And btw, who's gonna stop all these "human rights abuses" claims from being made? 
. Italians shouldn't trust anyone with security duties who has a track record of human rights abuses 
. Let's keep it local! 
i mean, i get it italian ppl are passionate and all but this is just ridiculous 
it's like they're saying 'we got this' while secretly freaking out internally 
anyway, i hope milan and cortina are ready for some drama 
but you know what? it's also a reminder that with great security comes great responsibility 
if we can't even agree on the best way to keep people safe, how are we gonna get anything done? 
. It's like they're saying their own security can't be trusted to handle it? That's not fair, we'd all freak out if our countries were working with another country on security and then found out they weren't doing everything right 
.
.
. It’s also kinda funny how Milan’s mayor is basically like a anti-ICE superhero, declaring them as "a militia that kills" 
. Maybe they should try to focus on welcoming athletes from around the world instead of worrying about a few rogue agents 
.
this just shows how easily they're gonna sell out Italy for the sake of a "secure" Olympics. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna invite our enemies to join in on the fun too? 