The planned deployment of controversial US forces during next month’s Winter Olympics has sparked outrage
The announcement, reported by AFP, that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will take on a controversial security role at the Winter Olympics in Italy next month has sparked considerable outrage in the host country.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Unit will cooperate with Italian authorities “screen and mitigate the risks of transnational criminal organizations” during the Milan Cortina Games from February 6 to 22, AFP reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from the agency. All security operations will remain under Italian command and no immigration enforcement will be carried out abroad, he added.
The backlash stems from recent high-profile incidents involving ICE in the US, including the killing of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during interactions with its agents in Minneapolis. Thousands of ICE agents have been deployed in various US cities to conduct a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Italian authorities initially denied the plans and tried to downplay the role, suggesting that ICE would only help with the security of the US delegation. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Milan on February 6.
The planned deployment drew sharp condemnation from Italian politicians. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala described the ICE agents as “to the militia” that means “I’m not welcome in Milan,” as quoted by ANSA on Tuesday. The mayor’s stance is in line with criticism from Italian opposition parties, which have tabled parliamentary questions criticizing the possible involvement of ICE agents and accusing them of “disproportionate use of force”, It was reported by the Italian agency AGI.
An online petition calling for ICE agents to be banned from the Milan Cortina Olympics surpassed 14,600 signatures Tuesday morning.
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The 25th Winter Olympic Games will be held in the Alpine cities of Milan and Cortina with the participation of athletes from 93 countries, including Russia.
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