The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are just days away, but instead of focusing on sports and athleticism, the spotlight is on security. The Italian government, city of Milan, embassies, and consulates have been scrambling to address public outcry following reports that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present at the Games.
The controversy began when it was revealed that ICE would accompany a US delegation to the Olympics, with the agency's role being to "vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations." However, this move has sparked outrage among Italians, who are upset about ICE's history of causing chaos, violence, and death in the US.
The presence of Italian military personnel near the iconic Piazza del Duomo in Milan is a stark reminder of the tensions surrounding ICE's involvement. Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, made it clear that agents were "not welcome" in the city, while other officials have been more equivocal about the issue.
However, it appears that Qatar has its own security team on site, consisting of over 100 public security officers, 20 camouflage SUVs, and three snowmobiles. The SUVs made their way to the city center, passing by Piazza Duomo and San Siro, where the opening ceremony will be held on Friday.
Qatar's elite security force has been tasked with monitoring locations, providing rapid response capabilities, and supporting preventive measures against potential security risks. However, this arrangement has proven contentious due to Qatar's history of human rights abuses, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community.
As the Olympics get underway, Italians are bracing for more controversy surrounding ICE's presence. With the Italian government remaining tight-lipped on the matter, it remains unclear how long these security forces will remain in Milan.
The presence of both ICE and Qatar's elite security team has highlighted the complexities of international cooperation and the challenges of balancing national security with human rights concerns. As the world watches the Winter Olympics unfold, one thing is clear: the security measures in place are far from reassuring for Italians and other spectators alike.
The controversy began when it was revealed that ICE would accompany a US delegation to the Olympics, with the agency's role being to "vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations." However, this move has sparked outrage among Italians, who are upset about ICE's history of causing chaos, violence, and death in the US.
The presence of Italian military personnel near the iconic Piazza del Duomo in Milan is a stark reminder of the tensions surrounding ICE's involvement. Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, made it clear that agents were "not welcome" in the city, while other officials have been more equivocal about the issue.
However, it appears that Qatar has its own security team on site, consisting of over 100 public security officers, 20 camouflage SUVs, and three snowmobiles. The SUVs made their way to the city center, passing by Piazza Duomo and San Siro, where the opening ceremony will be held on Friday.
Qatar's elite security force has been tasked with monitoring locations, providing rapid response capabilities, and supporting preventive measures against potential security risks. However, this arrangement has proven contentious due to Qatar's history of human rights abuses, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community.
As the Olympics get underway, Italians are bracing for more controversy surrounding ICE's presence. With the Italian government remaining tight-lipped on the matter, it remains unclear how long these security forces will remain in Milan.
The presence of both ICE and Qatar's elite security team has highlighted the complexities of international cooperation and the challenges of balancing national security with human rights concerns. As the world watches the Winter Olympics unfold, one thing is clear: the security measures in place are far from reassuring for Italians and other spectators alike.
! I mean, I get it, safety first, but can't they just leave ICE out of it? Their track record on human rights is pretty sketchy, you know? 
Meanwhile, Qatar's got its own security team on site and it's like, what's up with that? 
They've had some major issues with the LGBTQ+ community back home... not exactly a ringing endorsement for their human rights record 
. And now we're stuck with this awkward situation where ICE is basically causing tension in Italy while Qatar's trying to keep everything under wraps 
. Can't wait to see how all this plays out on live TV 
meanwhile, milan's mayor is all like "agents not welcome" 
I mean i get it we need security but come on can't they do better than ice? that guy's got a track record of human rights abuses and now they're just gonna bring him to milano like no big deal? and meanwhile qatar's elite squad is doing the same thing but at least they're transparent about their intentions...or lack thereof 
They're more concerned with their PR than actually addressing the elephant in the room... or should I say, the ice on the rink? 
But seriously, we need to talk about this and find a way to address our concerns without being too harsh. We can do better than this, right? 
Let's just try to have an open mind and see what happens, okay? 