ICE Agents at Winter Olympics 2026 Spark Outrage in Italy; Milan Mayor Says 'Not Welcome'

• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be present at the Winter Olympics 2026 in Italy to provide security for US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has openly declared ICE agents "not welcome," citing concerns over their methods not aligning with Italy's safety approach.
• Italy's interior minister stated ICE agents will have no external public order function, but opposition leaders remain unhappy.
• Veteran Olympic ceremonies wizard Marco Balich emphasized the Games should promote peace and unity, describing the tone as "sombre" due to the controversy.
• ICE's role is limited to supporting US officials' security and vetting risks from transnational criminal organizations, with all security operations remaining under Italian authority.