Demonstrators in Milan protest United State’s ICE unit function at Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Printed On 31 Jan 2026
A whole lot of demonstrators gathered Saturday in Milan to protest the deployment of ICE brokers through the upcoming Winter Olympics, unbothered by the truth that brokers can be stationed in a management room and never working on the streets.
The protest in Piazza XXV Aprile, a sq. named for the date of Italy’s liberation from Nazi fascism in 1945, drew folks from the left-leaning Democratic Celebration, the CGIL commerce union confederation and the ANPI organisations that shield the reminiscence of Italy’s partisan resistance throughout World Warfare II, together with many different folks.
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Organisers handed out plastic whistles, which members blew as music blared from a van. The protest was as a lot towards the information that brokers from a division of ICE would take part in safety for the US delegation as towards what many noticed as creeping fascism in america.
“No thanks, from Minnesota to the world, along with anybody who fights for human rights,’’ learn one banner. “By no means once more means by no means once more for anybody,’’ learn one other, and “Ice solely in Spritz,’’ a reference to a well-liked aperitif, learn yet one more.
Information of the deployment of ICE brokers has provoked a backlash in Italy. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has mentioned they weren’t welcome. Inside Minister Matteo Piantedosi has been referred to as to Parliament to testify concerning the deployment this week.
Protester Silvana Grassi held an indication that learn “Ice = Gestapo.” She mentioned the scenes of ICE brokers in Minneapolis capturing and killing protesters and detaining youngsters had been deeply upsetting.
“It makes me need to cry to consider it,’’ Grassi mentioned. “It’s too horrible. How did they elect such a horrible, evil man?’’
The ICE brokers to be deployed to Milan will not be from the identical unit because the immigration brokers cracking down in Minnesota and different US cities.
Homeland Safety Investigations, an ICE unit that focuses on cross-border crimes, steadily sends its officers to abroad occasions just like the Olympics to help with safety. The ICE arm on the forefront of the immigration crackdown within the US is called Enforcement and Removing Operations, and there’s no indication its officers are being despatched to Italy.
“Even when it’s not the identical ones, we don’t need them right here,’’ Grassi mentioned.
Paolo Bortoletto, additionally holding a banner, was conscious that the officers would have an investigative and never a avenue function.
Nonetheless, he mentioned, “We don’t need them in our nation. We’re a peaceable nation. We don’t need fascists. It’s their concepts that trouble us.”
The Olympics start February 6 with a gap ceremony that will probably be attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
