Great dismay has been caused by the news that a unit of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present during the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.
According to outlets such as the Associated Press (AP), in Italy, where this sporting event will take place, there is concern and confusion; the community has voiced indignation, due to the fact that this U.S. agency has dominated headlines worldwide in recent months over the raids.
However, it has been reported that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit within ICE that focuses on cross-border crimes, typically sends its agents to international events such as the Olympic Games to assist with security. They are separate from the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents.
This reaction from some in Italy reflects not only a worsening of foreign perception of the administration’s immigration tactics, but also underscores a broader gap between the United States under President Donald Trump and its international allies, according to international media.
To clarify the situation, the Italian Ministry of the Interior subsequently stated that HSI investigators would be stationed in a control room at the United States Consulate in Milan, in a supporting role with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, and that they would not include personnel involved in immigration controls in the United States.
