A fierce diplomatic row has erupted on the eve of the 2026 Winter Olympics, with Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala declaring US federal agents "persona non grata" in his city. The flashpoint? The deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Italy.

In a blistering attack that has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic corps, Mayor Sala branded the US agency "a militia that kills," explicitly referencing the controversial shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. "They are not welcome in Milan," Sala stated on live radio. "We do not need cowboys on our streets."

Security or Sovereignty?

The controversy stems from a misunderstanding—or a mistrust—of American bureaucratic reach. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insists that the ICE agents are from "Homeland Security Investigations" (HSI), a division tasked with transnational crime and diplomatic protection, not the "Enforcement and Removal Operations" (ERO) branch notorious for immigration raids.

But for the Italian public, the distinction is academic. The "ICE" brand is toxic. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has been forced into damage control, assuring parliament that "Italian police remain the sole authority on Italian soil" and that US agents will have no operational powers outside the American delegation’s bubble.

• The Minneapolis Shadow: The ghost of the Minneapolis shooting hangs heavy over this deployment. Italian media have replayed footage of US federal agents acting with impunity, fueling fears that American gun culture is being exported to the peaceful slopes of Cortina.
• The Protocol Breach: Usually, security cooperation is handled quietly. That a G7 mayor would openly insult a US federal agency highlights the deepening rift between European values and American policing tactics.
• The VP’s Detail: The stakes are high because US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony. The ICE/HSI team is part of his massive security footprint, which the Italians view as excessive and intrusive.

A Frozen Standoff

As the Olympic torch approaches Milan, the atmosphere is frosty. The US Embassy in Rome is working overtime to smooth ruffled feathers, but the message from Milan is clear: American power has limits, and the sovereignty of the host city is not up for negotiation.