Hype on Alleged Presence of ICE at Winter Olympics in Italy

Liberal media and opposition figures have made a fuss of reports according to which ICE agents will be deployed at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games (Feb. 6–22). Those reports have raised legitimate concerns among the public, but the hype seems to be unjustified. According to official statements by the Italian Interior ministry and the US Embassy in Rome, agents of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) [not Enforcement and Removal Operations, —ed.], will be involved, and they will operate from an operations room set up at the US Consulate in Milan. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said during a RAI television interview that HSI investigators and analysts are already present in Italy, as in 50 countries around the world, and they will not be on the streets. Only Italian law enforcement agents will be on the ground. Piantedosi will report in detail to Parliament on Feb. 4.