Street artist Laika protests U.S. immigration agency presence at Milan-Cortina Olympics

Street artist Laika unveiled a new work titled "ICE OUT!" on Thursday outside the headquarters of Italy's National Olympic Committee in Rome, protesting the presence of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The poster depicts an ICE agent firing at a ski jumper and features an inverted mountain bearing the Olympic Games logo, with the red circle transformed into a gun sight. The work appeared on the eve of the opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday.

Laika stated that the presence of the anti-immigration agency is "inadmissible," characterizing ICE agents as operating under Trump administration direction and describing their activities as "racist and violent" with tactics resembling "Gestapo-style roundups." The artist's statement came as part of broader opposition to ICE participation in the Games, with a petition against the agency's involvement garnering over 12,000 signatures.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi addressed the controversy during a briefing to parliament, defending the agency's presence as compliance with a binding international agreement assumed by Italy rather than a unilateral infringement on national sovereignty. Piantedosi stated that ICE would not conduct operational police activities on Italian territory, emphasizing that security and public order remain the exclusive responsibility of Italian law enforcement.

The minister noted that investigative collaborations between agencies typically occur at the international level. He also referenced historical precedent, stating that other nations have previously hosted foreign military personnel during major events.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani previously clarified that ICE would not be involved in public order operations during the Games, limiting its role to activities within the U.S. Consulate.