'A militia that kills': uproar in Italy over ICE security role at Winter Olympics

[groundloop]

Source: The Guardian

[snip]

Speculation in Italy over ICE’s involvement in the games, which begin on 6 February, had been brewing for days and mounted further on Monday after the president of Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, said on Monday that the US vice-president, JD Vance, and secretary of state, Marco Rubio, would be protected by ICE “bodyguards” at the Olympics.

The speculation fuelled outrage in Italy over ICE’s immigration operations, especially after the fatal shootings this month of the US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

The daily newspaper La Repubblica claimed Italy’s far-right government, which has nurtured friendly relations with Donald Trump’s administration, had briefly looked into blocking the participation of ICE agents in the delegation, but that would have required a departure from how US officials are usually protected during similar high-profile visits abroad.

Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, told RTL radio that the agents would not be welcome in the city “because they don’t guarantee they’re aligned with our democratic security management methods”.




Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/27/italy-ice-security-role-winter-olympics

[JustAnotherGen]

1. They are right to be in an uproar

Mayor Sala is also right to say they are not welcome.

He's going to need the State Police presence ramped up there.

Note - My husband is from Italy and we have family throughout. Our good good 'couple friends' have a son they sent to Uni in Milan. We've known Massimo since he was a little guy. They are like family to us.

I don't want them anywhere near him. They can't be trusted.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. So, Vance no longer trusts the Secret Service?

[70sEraVet]

5. The Secret Service is too 'woke'?

[mopinko]

23. that sounds promising.

things that make u go hmmmm.

[mysteryowl]

3. Rome Media Correspondent

Angela Giuffrida is the Guardian’s Rome correspondent

Two journalists from the Italian state broadcaster, Rai, were threatened by ICE agents in Minneapolis while filming for a report on the rising tensions in the US under Donald Trump’s administration, sparking a political backlash in Italy.

In a video posted on the Instagram account of the news show, In Mezz’Ora, journalists Laura Cappon and Daniele Babbo are in a car with anti-ICE activists who are following a jeep with agents on board as they search the city for people to detain.

Upon realising their vehicle is being followed, the ICE agents stop the jeep and approach the car with the two journalists inside. Despite identifying themselves as being from the press, the ICE agents threaten to break the car window and drag the passengers out if they continue keep following and recording.

The woman driving the car refuses to pull down the window while repeatedly saying “we’re not doing anything wrong”. Others can be seen filming the encounter on the street before the agents get into their vehicle and drive away.

Politicians from Italian opposition parties have urged the government of Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who is ideologically aligned with Trump, to protect its citizens and condemn the intimidation.

“Two Italian journalists have also been threatened by Trump’s political police,” said Peppe Provenzano, a politician with the centre-left Democratic party. “Our deepest sympathy and solidarity goes out to them. If the Meloni government has any national pride, we ask it to formally protest and distance itself once and for all. We also ask it to clarify how it intends to protect our fellow citizens who live and work in places where ICE is operating from this climate of intimidation and violence.”

He added: “Seeing America reduced to this state by Trump’s thugs, sowing chaos, terror and death in the streets, while being covered up by the Trump administration, is truly dismaying.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jan/26/minnesota-minneapolis-ice-protests-alex-pretti-donald-trump-us-politics-live-news-updates

https://democraticunderground.com/100220970508

Video link - Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/DT78irPDDyy/

[dutch777]

4. Sports and celebrities therefrom have huge potential to make meaningful anti- MAGA statements. Boycotts, etc....

will enrage Trump and be front page negative news for all the MAGA stupidity going on. The only regret in that is when our amateur athletes get impacted but it is the right thing in the big picture.

[VTderry]

6. Bravo Italia!

They recognize fascism when they see it.

[MiHale]

7. I'd tell them "It's my country, stay the f-...out!

ICE has no business being there…none.

[Javaman]

8. and let the boycotts begin! nt

[Lonestarblue]

9. Retaliation for Italian journalists filming ICE's depredations on Americans.

[Jilly_in_VA]

10. They have no business being there

A completely untrained "security force"? No way, nohow, no time. Kick 'em out!

[groundloop]

17. Not only untrained, but these are J6 insurrectionists with a history of violence.

And they absolutely have no business at the Olympics.

[tonekat]

19. They shouldn't get Passports!

They are a criminal militia. They deserve no official dispensations.

[dflprincess]

21. Italy should refuse to let them in the country. nt

[SunSeeker]

11. Italy knows a fascist secret police when it sees one. nt

[DBoon]

24. Yes

At least these guys didn't cover their faces

[barbtries]

12. if I was an athlete from a different country,

i wouldn't want to come here. not for the world cup not for the olympics not for a vacation not for anything.

[ToxMarz]

13. They say ICE "bodyguards", I hear terrorists

If they're taking them around the world, that would make them an international terrorist oganization

[Mr. Mustard 2023]

14. ICE is Trump's personal police force,

accountable only to him. ICE will not obey another country's laws. We've got to stop the Republican Maga and ICE.

[mountain grammy]

15. Are they going to wear their masks?

Camo? Carry weapons? Fuck this nonsense. The secret service should be sufficient. If they’re too afraid to go abroad stay home.

[iemanja]

16. Vance and Rubio are idiots

The Secret Service is far better at their jobs.

[Deep State Witch]

18. Italian Police

Okay, I've never been to Milan. But we saw armed police all over Rome, mostly in the tourist areas. We approached some for directions near Santa Maria Maggiore because we were totally lost. They were friendly with the stupid American tourists, but meant business. Real assault rifles, not the fake AR-15 knockoffs. They could probably take down the Gravy Seals and get home in time for cappuccino.

And if they didn't take care of the Gravy Seals, the mafia could come up from Sicily...

[orangecrush]

22. I want them to meet these guys

Real Italian ANTIFA.

?si=F0bo5_y0V3xzy64r

[Bohunk68]

25. jAs I am reading these items, I hear a song:

Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Ciao, Ciao. Several versions on youtube. We should be singing it here.

[orangecrush]

26. Thank you, I love this

?si=VNyLQCK9fvTziXVI

[orangecrush]

20. Vaffanculo, ICE!

?view_padding=[285%2C0%2C285%2C0]

[milestogo]

27. They can go to the Olympics, but not the Superbowl?

Oh right, Bad Bunny.

[Torchlight]

28. 'Nobody really is expecting them to turn up wearing balaclavas and clutching automatic weapons.

But that is the way they're perceived now in Italy.'


(Reuters World News quoting an Italian government employee, 1-28)

[Rhiannon12866]

29. If their job is looking for non-American citizens, why are they needed in another country??

It is a very poor idea to send them abroad, they've alienated enough American citizens here at home.

[róisín_dubh]

30. One of my best friends, who is

Italian, nearly had a stroke when she read about this.
Billy Big-Bollocks is who these guys think they are. I can’t even…

[ProudMNDemocrat]

31. ICE in Italy equals SUPPRESSION of voices of US Athletes.

Think back to when athletes from the old Soviet Union were watched for possible defection to the West during the Winter and Summer Olympics.

ICE agents in Italy does not present a good look.