After extensive coverage in Minnesota of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, the Department of Homeland Security announced that an ICE unit will be deployed 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 presence at the Games, set to start on Feb. 6, has sparked opposition among some Italians, including Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who expressed disapproval of ICE being in his city, where the opening ceremony and most ice sports will take place.
HSI, a unit within ICE focused on cross-border crimes, often sends officers to international events like the Olympics to aid in security measures. These HSI officers are distinct from the Enforcement and Removal Operations officers leading immigration crackdowns in U.S. cities, with no indication that ERO officers will be part of the deployment to Italy.
It is not uncommon for ICE to participate in security at major sports events both in the U.S. and abroad, collaborating on issues like human trafficking and drug trafficking. Recent incidents in Minneapolis have heightened concerns about ICE’s presence outside the U.S., prompting online petitions and opposition to their involvement in the Milano-Cortina Games.
The HSI investigators deployed to Italy will be stationed at a control room in the U.S. Consulate in Milan, working alongside other U.S. law enforcement agencies. Their primary focus will be on investigations with cross-border elements, such as human smuggling and trafficking of illegal substances and cultural artifacts.
ICE agents at the Winter Olympics in Italy will operate in a capacity different from their immigration enforcement roles in the U.S., emphasizing their support for security measures led by the U.S. Department of State and Italian authorities.
The article also mentions that ICE is divided into four directorates, including Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, along with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor and Management and Administration branches.