After extensive media coverage in Minnesota about the implementation of the Trump administration’s immigration policies by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security announced that an ICE unit is heading to Italy for the Winter Olympics.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division will be supporting the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games, according to a statement by the Department of Homeland Security on social media.
The news of the ICE unit’s deployment for the Games, commencing on Feb. 6, has sparked controversy in Italy. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala expressed his opposition to ICE’s presence in his city, where the opening ceremony and most ice sports will take place.
Contrary to some beliefs, ICE’s involvement in providing security for U.S. delegations abroad is not unusual. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit within ICE dedicated to addressing cross-border crimes, often sends its officers to international events to assist with security measures. These HSI officers operate separately from the Enforcement and Removal Operations arm responsible for immigration enforcement within the U.S.
ICE’s participation in major sporting events, both domestically and internationally, including previous Olympic Games, is part of international collaborations focused on combating human trafficking and drug trafficking, as noted by Jason Houser, a former ICE chief of staff under President Joe Biden.
Recent tragic incidents in Minneapolis during immigration operations have drawn attention to ICE and raised concerns about its presence beyond U.S. borders. Reports of ICE’s deployment for the Olympics in Italy led to the initiation of online petitions by small opposition groups seeking to oppose ICE’s involvement in the Milano-Cortina Games.
The HSI unit deployed to Italy will work in a support role alongside other U.S. law enforcement agencies at a control room in the U.S. Consulate in Milan, according to Italy’s Interior Ministry. Their responsibilities include conducting investigations related to cross-border crimes like human smuggling, fentanyl trafficking, and cultural artifacts smuggling.
Officials emphasize that the ICE agents at the Milano-Cortina Games will not be engaged in immigration enforcement operations. Instead, they will collaborate with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and Italian authorities to address risks posed by transnational criminal organizations.
ICE comprises four directorates, including Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. The other two directorates are the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, which handles immigration removal cases, and the Management and Administration branch.
Overall, ICE’s involvement in providing security support at international events aligns with its mandate to combat transnational crimes and safeguard U.S. interests overseas.