After extensive coverage in Minnesota about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, the Department of Homeland Security announced that an ICE unit will be sent to Italy for the Winter Olympics.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division (HSI) will assist the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security on social media.
The news of the ICE unit’s deployment for the Games, commencing on Feb. 6, sparked controversy among some Italians, including Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who expressed opposition to ICE’s presence in his city, particularly during the opening ceremony and ice sports events.
It is not uncommon for ICE to participate in security operations for U.S. delegations abroad. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a branch of ICE focusing on transnational crimes, often dispatches officers to international events to enhance security measures.
Contrary to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations involved in immigration enforcement in U.S. cities, the HSI officers being sent to Italy have a distinct role in supporting security efforts at the Olympics. ICE’s participation in major sports events worldwide, including previous Olympic Games, is part of collaborative efforts against human trafficking and drug-related activities.
The tragic incidents in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement actions have heightened public awareness and concerns about ICE’s activities beyond U.S. borders. Reports of ICE’s deployment at the Olympics in Italy led to online petitions denouncing its presence at the Milano-Cortina Games.
The HSI investigators stationed in Italy will work in collaboration with other U.S. law enforcement agencies from a control room at the U.S. Consulate in Milan. They will primarily focus on investigations involving cross-border crimes such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cultural artifact smuggling, while emphasizing a distinct role from immigration enforcement.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security clarified that ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations at the Olympics will support the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and Italian authorities in addressing risks from transnational criminal organizations, with all security operations under Italian jurisdiction.
Apart from the HSI and Enforcement and Removal Operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement comprises the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor and the Management and Administration branch, each playing specific roles within the agency.
