What will they be used for then? After the controversy caused by the arrival of American immigration police for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the Italian Minister of the Interior assured this Wednesday that ICE agents will not play any “operational” role.
“I once again reaffirm the central point: the ICE does not exercise and will never exercise operational police activities on our national territory,” Matteo Piantedosi declared to the deputies, two days before the opening of the Olympic Games. The ICE agents present in Italy belong to the Internal Security Service (HSI) responsible for analyzes of anti-terrorism and international crime.
“They are not welcome”
Italian authorities initially denied the presence of ICE agents, then tried to downplay their role, suggesting they would only help ensure the security of the American delegation.
Hundreds of demonstrators even gathered this Saturday in Milan (Italy) to protest against the deployment of American Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“It is clear that they are not welcome in Milan, there is no doubt,” Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said last week on RTL radio on Tuesday. The elected official believes that the presence during the Milan-Cortina Olympics of this “militia which kills” and which “enters people’s homes by issuing self-authorization” was a “problem”.
It remains to be seen what role the ICE will play during this fortnight. The most likely hypothesis is a potential protection service for US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who are due to attend the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium this Friday.
