Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Milan, Italy, to protest against the deployment of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Demonstrators gathered in Piazza XXV Aprile, a square named after the date of Italy‘s liberation from the Nazis in 1945.
In an echo of anti-ICE protests in the US, they blew whistles and sang Bruce Springsteen songs.
“Never again means never again for anyone,” one banner said, while another read “Ice only in Spritz”, in reference to a popular aperitif.
“No thank you, from Minnesota to the world, at the side of anyone who fights for human rights,” another said.
Also present at the protest were members of ANPI organisations, which celebrate the memory of Italy’s partisan resistance during the Second World War.
Pic: Reuters
Earlier this week the US state department said several federal agencies, including ICE, would be deployed to help protect visiting Americans at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, as they have in previous Olympics.
Milan and the Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo will co-host the Games from 6-22 February.
US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio will attend the opening ceremony on 6 February.
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Pic: Reuters
The news has caused outrage in Italy, which has traditionally been a strong ally of the US, coming after two US citizens were shot and killed by federal agents during protests against ICE operations in Minnesota in January.
The ICE agents which will be deployed in Milan are not the same unit as the agents cracking down on immigration in Minnesota and other US cities.
Homeland Security Investigations, an ICE unit focusing on cross-border crimes, frequently sends its officers overseas to events like the Olympics to assist with security.
The ICE unit focused on the US immigration crackdown is known as Enforcement and Removal Operations and there is no indication its officers are being sent to Italy.
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