Anti-ICE protests in Milan ahead of Winter Olympics over plans to deploy agents

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Anti-ICE protests have reached the site of next week’s Winter Olympics.

Hundreds of protesters were in Milan on Saturday amid the announcement that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be deployed at this year’s Games. U.S. Embassy officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday that ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not conduct any immigration enforcement operations.

“It is clear that ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

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People take part in an Anti-ICE demonstration ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

But that didn’t stop the protests in Piazza XXV Aprile.

“No thanks, from Minnesota to the world, alongside anyone fighting for human rights,” one banner read, according to The Associated Press. Another read “Ice cream only in Spritz.”

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in the city, citing images of masked agents in Minneapolis. Milan will host most of the events during the Olympics, which start on February 6.

People take part in an Anti-ICE demonstration ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

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“This is a militia that kills, a militia that goes into people’s homes and signs their own permission slips. It is clear that they are not welcome in Milan, no doubt,” Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE’s reported security involvement was revealed.

However, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Saturday that while he had no information that ICE would be at the Olympics, he did not “see what the problem would be,” according to the ANSA news agency.