U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel who are part of Homeland Security Investigations will have a small security support role during the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, according to a person familiar with the matter. However, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement in foreign countries and will not run immigration enforcement operations at the Games, the source said. The Associated Press first reported the story.
"As in previous Olympic events, multiple federal agencies are supporting the Diplomatic Security Service, including Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s investigative component," a State Department spokesperson told USA TODAY.
Vice President JD Vance will lead an American delegation attending the Feb. 6 opening ceremony in Milan, the White House announced earlier this month.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Saturday that although he had not received confirmation that ICE agents would be deployed, "I don’t see what the problem would be," the news agency ANSA reported.
However, Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said in a radio interview that he's opposed to any ICE presence in his city.
