In a striking diplomatic rupture, Italian authorities are openly rebuking the United States government over its plan to embed agents from its Gestapo-like Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency within the American security delegation for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The decision has sparked fury from local leaders, with Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala declaring the controversial federal agents “not welcome” on Italian soil, labeling ICE “a militia that kills.”
The confirmation, reluctantly provided by the U.S. Embassy in Rome after days of Italian government denials, has ignited a political firestorm.
It places the administration of President Donald Trump on a direct collision course with a major European ally, revealing the deep international alarm over American domestic policing tactics.
The core of the Italian opposition lies in the documented conduct of ICE within the United States.
Officials pointed specifically to the recent street killings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE agents, and a vast archive of online video evidence depicting violent, arbitrary operations.
“I wonder, can we just say no to Trump?” Mayor Sala asked publicly. “ICE agents shouldn’t come to Italy because they don’t align with our democratic way of ensuring security.”
The Italian government’s response has been one of profound embarrassment and mixed messaging.
While Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi initially downplayed concerns, asking “what’s the problem?” before scheduling an urgent meeting at the U.S. Embassy, his colleague Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani offered a historically tone-deaf attempt at reassurance.
“It’s not like the SS are coming,” Tajani said, invoking the Nazi paramilitary organization in a remark that only amplified the controversy.
Observers responded by asserting that it is like the SS are planning a visit.
German media commentators recently said the greatcoat worn by the senior US border patrol official Gregory Bovino, who has spearheaded aggressive immigration operations across the country, resembled a fascist aesthetic.
Bovino has been a recognizable figure during ICE raids in Minneapolis for the brass-buttoned, calf-length olive green coat, which stands out from the masks, fatigues and body armor worn by many of the federal agents.
U.S. officials have insisted the Olympics deployment is routine, with an ICE spokesperson stating its personnel will “support the Diplomatic Security Service” and the Italian host country in assessing risks from “transnational criminal organizations.”
The spokesperson explicitly noted that “ICE does not conduct immigration control operations in foreign countries,” a distinction lost on Italian critics who see the agency’s very presence as an endorsement of its Gestapo-like methods.
The dispute transcends a simple security negotiation. It represents a fundamental clash of values at a premier global event, where America seeks to project power with a force its allies view as a symbol of brutality.
The Italian opposition, from the mayor’s office to the halls of parliament, is now a very public referendum on the international reputation of Trump-era enforcement agencies.
As the world prepares to gather in Milan, the United States finds itself in the unusual position of having to defend the honor of its guardians before the games even begin.