Protests Erupt in Milan Against ICE Involvement at Winter Olympics

Hundreds protested in Milan, urging ICE agents to leave Italy after violent incidents in Minneapolis sparked outrage.

Protests Erupt in Milan Over ICE’s Involvement in Winter Olympics Security

In a striking display of public dissent, hundreds congregated in Milan’s Piazza XXV Aprile on Saturday, voicing their disapproval of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents participating in the security operations for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. The protestors, driven by outrage from footage depicting ICE’s actions in Minneapolis, demanded the withdrawal of these agents.

PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP

Bruna Scanziani, an 18-year-old protester, highlighted the shift in perception towards America, referencing publicly available videos of U.S. ICE agents. Holding photographs of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, two victims of ICE operations, she stressed the impact of these images on her views.

Bruna Scanziani, age 18, who lives outside Milan, told NPR that she's been frightened and angered by images of ICE operating in Minneapolis. Like many Italians protesting Saturday, Scanziani wants ICE agents assisting with security at the Winter Olympics to leave Italy.

Brian Mann/NPR

With the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony drawing near, the Italian government is navigating the political turmoil surrounding ICE’s involvement. Efforts include high-level meetings and public reassurances of ICE’s restricted role, according to a recent NPR report.

U.S. officials have clarified that ICE’s role is limited to monitoring potential criminal activity, aligning with past international event protocols. Nonetheless, Italian leaders, such as Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala, have firmly opposed the agents’ presence.

“This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips,” Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala expressed to local media, reflecting the city’s sentiment.

Francesco Tattoni, another protest participant, echoed this discontent, likening ICE’s actions to those of historical fascists. “I don’t like what’s happening with ICE. I don’t want that to come here to Italy,” he affirmed.

ICE agents in Milan? No thanks! reads a sign at a protest march in Milan, Italy, on Saturday.

Brian Mann/NPR

The protest, organized by left-wing groups, saw diverse participation, from young families to elderly couples, all united against ICE’s presence. Despite the heavy police monitoring, the demonstration remained peaceful.

Alessandro Capella of the Italian Democratic Party emphasized the broader issue at hand, stating, “It’s not just for the Olympic games, it’s about justice in the world. We don’t want here ICE.”

White House officials confirmed that both Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are slated to attend the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony on February 6, further elevating the international prominence of this event.