Milan mayor opposes entry of U.S. ICE agents during Winter Olympics

ROME, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala on Tuesday said he does not want to see the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Italy during the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

"These agents should not come to Italy because they cannot guarantee alignment with our security policy," Sala said during an interview with local media on Tuesday.

His remarks followed similar comments made Monday during a city security event. "As the first citizen of Milan, and even more so as an Italian, I absolutely do not want ICE agents to come to Milan," Sala told reporters.

"I strongly hope they do not cross Italian borders," he added.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, ICE on Tuesday confirmed that its agents will collaborate with Italian authorities in ensuring the security support for the U.S. delegation and to prevent potential transnational criminal threats during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi met with the U.S. Ambassador to Italy on Tuesday to clarify the role of ICE agents during the games, stressing that full sovereignty over public order remains exclusively in the hands of Italian law enforcement.

The ICE personnel will act as "liaison officers" rather than operational police with executive powers on Italian soil, Piantedosi said.

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22, followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 6 to March 15.