Milan Protest Targets ICE Role Ahead of 2026 Games (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: I'm here at a protest in central Milan where just in a matter of days the 2026 Winter Olympics are due to kick off. Last week news came out that ICE agent employees would be present at the Winter Olympics and that did not go down well here with Italians. Tell me about your sign you've got here.

[00:00:21] Speaker 2: I think I wanted to make something, a message that was like clear and easy to read that really shows that ICE don't really approve the behavior of ICE agents in the US. So that's why I came here today.

[00:01:04] Speaker 1: The local reaction has prompted the Italian government to react and to clarify the role that ICE will have here during the Winter Olympics.

[00:01:14] Speaker 3: We need to look at what the responsibilities of ICE actually are. If they come they will come to cooperate, not out on the streets, but to cooperate with the police just as police forces from other countries do. When there's a major event there has to be international cooperation among police forces.

[00:01:30] Speaker 1: US Olympics officials put out a statement last week clarifying ICE's role during the Games saying the USOPC does not work with US domestic law enforcement or immigration agencies in the planning or execution of the Games, including agencies within the Department of Homeland Security like US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Italian authorities are solely responsible for all security operations at the Games. A spokesperson for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations emphasized the agency would not be carrying out immigration enforcement operations. And the DHS has said it will be supporting the US State Department's diplomatic security service and Italian authorities who will take the lead in securing operations. The protest has been very peaceful. There are people here from all walks of life, from retirees to families with small children. Security is always a top priority at these big events and US officials told CNN that they've been working for as long as two years with local Italian law enforcement to make sure that the US athletes there, their parents and the US delegations coming here will be safe. It was confirmed to CNN that JD Varn, US Vice President and Secretary of State Rubio will be attending the Olympics.