BREAKING: “SYNONYMOUS WITH FEAR” — Italy EXPLODES over Trump plan to send ICE to the Winter Olympics in their country.
Donald Trump’s immigration force just ran head-first into European reality — and Italy is not impressed.
The Biden-era norm of quiet diplomatic security cooperation has been blown up after the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that ICE agents will accompany the U.S. Olympic delegation to the Winter Games in northern Italy, triggering outrage across the country.
ICE claims the agents are there “to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations,” insisting they “do not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries.” But after the killing of two American citizens by ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, Italians are asking a very simple question: Why bring an agency synonymous with fear to an international celebration of sport?
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala didn’t mince words, urging his government to “say no to Trump.”
“Bringing to Milan a militia which distinguished itself — this is not my opinion — with criminal acts, which kills, which enters in the homes of American citizens without authorization, I do not think that that is a good idea,” Sala said.
Even though characterizing it as not “a good idea” seems like a pretty mild reaction, in diplomatic speech, that is a major rebuke. Ouch!
Italy’s center-left Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein echoed the concern, warning about the arrival of “an armed militia that is not respecting the law on American soil,” adding that Italians fear ICE would show the same disregard abroad.
Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani was forced to step in, making clear that ICE will not be allowed to operate on Italian streets. “Public order during the Olympics will be handled only by Italian police,” he said.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi tried to downplay the uproar, calling it “a controversy over nothing,” but still stressed that it is “absolutely forbidden” for foreign agents to carry out police or immigration activity on Italian soil.
That’s an extremely clear message to the Trump administration: Don’t even think about it. It doesn’t make a difference whether the ICE agents already have the gaiters for the winter weather. They’re just not welcome.
Italian journalists were blunter. Writing in La Stampa, Francesco Malfetano described ICE as an agency that “for many, not only across the Atlantic, is synonymous with fear.”
That fear isn’t imaginary. It’s built on bodycam footage, courtroom filings, and dead civilians.
The Olympics are supposed to represent unity, peace, and international cooperation — not Trump’s traveling immigration crackdown. Italy just reminded the world: you can bring your athletes — but your immigration shock troops can stay home.
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