Reports have emerged that US immigration agency ICE could be involved in security operations for the upcoming February 6–22 Olympic Games in northern Italy, prompting criticism from local officials.

In a statement to AFP, ICE clarified: “At the Olympics, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is supporting the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations. All security operations remain under Italian authority.”

It is unclear whether HSI has participated in Olympic security operations before, or if this marks a first for the agency. HSI investigates global threats, including the illegal movement of people, goods, money, weapons, contraband, and sensitive technology into, out of, and through the United States.

ICE emphasized that its operations in Italy are entirely separate from its domestic immigration enforcement activities, which are handled by the Enforcement and Removal Operations department. “Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries,” the agency said.

The protection of US citizens at the Games remains the responsibility of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.

The agency’s presence has drawn criticism in Italy, especially after the deaths of two civilians during an ICE-related immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. Milan’s leftist mayor, Giuseppe Sala, declared ICE “not welcome,” calling the agency a “militia that kills” and questioning why Italy should cooperate with US security under President Donald Trump.

Alessandro Zan, a member of the European Parliament representing Italy’s centre-left Democratic Party, also condemned ICE’s involvement as “unacceptable,” stating on X that Italy does not want “those who trample on human rights and act outside of any democratic control.”

The controversy highlights tensions over US immigration policies abroad and the presence of American security agencies at international events.