MILAN (TNND) — The United States will send agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, the U.S. Embassy in Rome confirmed to The Associated Press.
Sources said ICE agents will support diplomatic security and would not take part in any immigration enforcement operations.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala warned that ICE would not be welcome in his city.
“This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,” Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE’s deployment to the Games was confirmed.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said on social media Saturday that the government has no record of ICE agents being on national territory, “neither now nor in preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics.”
However, Piantedosi noted that the U.S. delegation may be accompanied by its own security detail, but they will only be able to “provide a passive service for the protection of the athletes.”
“Any other type of police activity on our national territory is directed and managed exclusively by Italian authorities, primarily prefectures and police headquarters,” he said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation attending the Feb. 6 opening ceremony. The delegation will also include second lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the White House announced earlier this month.
Milan is hosting most ice sports during the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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