Italy's centre-left opposition protested in the Lombardy regional council on Tuesday (January 27) against reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could be present in connection with the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

The demonstration comes amid international scrutiny of the U.S. agency following controversial anti-migrant operations in Minneapolis, where ICE agents have been linked to the shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, drawing national outrage.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel will help protect U.S. delegations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, a U.S. embassy source said on Tuesday, confirming local media reports and prompting anger among some Italian politicians.

The embassy source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division would back up the U.S. State Department's security service at the February 6-22 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Pierfrancesco Majorino, leader of the Democratic Party group in the council, called the potential presence of ICE “very bad news,” saying: “We don't want Trump’s thug squads here…"

The opposition held placards reading “ICE out” and “ICE, no thanks” during the session.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MILAN, ITALY (JANUARY 27, 2026) (DEMOCRATIC PARTY HANDOUT - Access all)

1. DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS HOLDING UP PLACARDS READING "ICE OUT" AND PROTESTING AT LOMBARDY REGIONAL COUNCIL

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GROUP PIERFRANCESCO MAJORINO SAYING:

"I believe this is truly very bad news. We don't want Trump's thuggish squads here; people who kill civilian citizens. We don't need them. I don't understand what they're even doing here, and so we think that the government and all institutions together should say: 'we don't want you'."

3. PROTEST AT LOMBARDY REGIONAL COUNCIL

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GROUP PIERFRANCESCO MAJORINO SAYING:

"It almost seems as though the Meloni government is unable to clearly say: 'We do not want ICE in Italy'."

5. PROTEST IN PROGRESS