ICE Heats Up Milan: Americans and Italians Alike Protest the US Delegation’s Security Staff

While the world gathered in Milan-Cortina for three weeks of an attempt at international unity at the Winter Olympics, the Trump administration had other plans: utilizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as personal security staff for the US delegation present at the Olympic opening ceremony, including Vice-President J.D Vance as well as Secretary of State Mark Rubio. Italians in Milan and Americans alike, both responded to the news with fervent protests with a clear message: ICE is unwelcome both in and outside of America. Milan Mayor, Giuseppe Sala, took the side of the protestors in a public statement, saying, “It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt.”

Since Trump took office for the second time in January 2025, ICE has ramped up operations within the US. In Trump's first year back in over, ICE operations increased by 75%, resulting in approximately 73,000 people being held in ICE Custody as of January 2026 (American Immigration Council, 2026). 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, among others, such as Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who have been killed by ICE in public, launching viral outrage over the lack of training, regulation, and consequences for ICE agents. ICE’s recent operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota sparked a new wave of protests against the government organization, and have received international recognition and criticism. Given that US Customs & Immigration Enforcement has no jurisdiction outside the United States and their territories, as well as the fact that high-ranking officials such as JD Vance and Mark Rubio are already provided security through the Secret Service, the question remains as to why the administration would send undertrained and unregulated agents to Milan as the Vice-President’s personal security?

Despite the criticism that the Trump Administration, as well as the whole of the United States, has received in the past year, hundreds of Americans still went to Italy to cheer on Team USA’s 232 athletes. Both athletes and spectators have expressed a common feeling and open criticism towards the Trump admin and current state of government. From school walkouts within the United States to freestyle skier Hunter Hess openly critiquing the current state of government in a press conference, stating, “Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S”, the critiques against the Trump administration have now come to Milan-Cortina.

For Americans who have come to cheer on Team USA, the feelings about sporting Old Glory around Italy are certainly mixed. “I almost feel embarrassed to tell people I’m here cheering on the US. Like, I definitely don’t feel proud to be American when I’m here, but at the same time I hope people realize I’m just supporting the athletes and not our government.” Said a study-abroad student who requested to not be identified in an interview with The Forum. For others, however, the current state of politics didn’t seem to phase their pride for Team USA; “The Olympics are supposed to be about coming together no matter what else is going on in the world. Even if nobody likes our government right now, there’s no doubt that America dominates the international competition every time we come here, and we aren’t going to miss out on seeing that.” said an anonymous American spectator who was handing out beads, bracelets, and Team USA merch to anybody who would take it inside the stadium.

                 Regardless of any headline, the energy within Milan was infectious. For many Americans, traveling outside of America right now may feel intimidating at first, but upon interactions with Milan locals, Europeans, and people from around the world gathered to celebrate the joy of sport, most sense of geopolitical conflict fades away into the joy of humanity. During an interaction with law students from Italy, they expressed empathy and above all, curiosity regarding the present American political scene. For a nation that is still healing from the wounds of fascism, the Italians, above all, were the most sympathetic to the new reality the United States is facing. The protests in Milan regarding ICE further prove that the world is not anti-American, they are anti-fascist.

The vast majority of Americans in Milan have spoken; there is a clear line drawn between the athletes and the American government. For Team USA, being at the Olympics is the greatest show of the American dream: of coming up from nothing, hard work, dedication, and following your dreams wherever they may take you. For a team built of queer athletes, descendants of immigrants, and as Amber Glenn has described as “woke b*tches winning”, Team USA sure gives Americans something to root for. 

About the Author