OLYMPICS: Italy sets security plan for Milano Cortina 2026, says US ICE staff not on the ground

ROME – Italy has unveiled an extensive security plan for the upcoming Winter Olympics, emphasizing that all operations will remain under Italian authority, following news that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel would assist the U.S. delegation.

The Games, scheduled from February 6–22, will be one of the most complex security operations Italy has ever managed. Events are split between Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with additional competitions taking place across other northern Italian locations.

About 3,500 athletes are expected to compete, with the government anticipating roughly two million visitors. The opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium alone will host around 60,000 spectators. The U.S. delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

6,000 Law-Enforcement Officers Deployed

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi described the security strategy as a combination of field deployment, intelligence-driven prevention, and—for the first time at a major Italian event—a 24-hour cybersecurity control room.

Some 6,000 law-enforcement officers will be stationed across Olympic sites, supported by no-fly zones and restricted-access areas.

Competing nations often bring their own security teams. In line with this, the U.S. State Department confirmed that several federal agencies, including ICE, would provide protection for American officials, as has been standard at previous Olympic Games.

However, the Italian interior ministry clarified that ICE personnel would only operate within U.S. diplomatic offices, such as the Milan consulate, and “not on the ground.”

“All security operations on Italian territory remain, as always, under the exclusive responsibility and direction of the Italian authorities,” the ministry said.

Protests and Public Criticism

Despite these assurances, criticism is mounting. The hard-left USB union has announced an “ICE OUT” rally in central Milan on February 6, coinciding with the Games’ opening ceremony. Opposition parties and left-wing groups are also planning a protest this Saturday.

ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents have faced criticism in the United States for their enforcement actions under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Images of these actions have sparked concern in Italy, traditionally a close U.S. ally.

Advanced Security Measures

Under the Olympic security plan, more than 3,000 regular police officers, around 2,000 Carabinieri military police, and over 800 Guardia di Finanza tax police will be deployed, with Milan hosting the largest contingent.

Additional measures include drone surveillance, robotic inspection systems for hazardous or hard-to-reach areas, and a cybersecurity command center in Milan, tasked with monitoring Olympic networks and strategic transport infrastructure—lessons learned from disruptions during the Paris 2024 Games.

Authorities will also establish several “red zones” from February 6–22, barring access to individuals with prior public-order convictions to prevent potential clashes.

-Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Christian Radnedge/Reuters