Italian journalists threatened by ICE agents while reporting in Minneapolis

Italian opposition politicians call for diplomatic action after RAI journalists face threats from ICE agents while reporting in Minneapolis

Federal agents stand guard as they try to clear the demonstrators near a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Two journalists from Italy’s state broadcaster RAI were threatened by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis while filming a report on rising tensions in the US under Donald Trump’s administration, sparking a political backlash in Italy.

In a video posted on the Instagram account of the news show In Mezz’Ora, journalists Laura Cappon and Daniele Babbo are inside a car with anti-ICE activists as they follow a jeep carrying agents searching the city for people to detain.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner)

After realising they were being followed, the ICE agents stopped their vehicle and approached the car carrying the journalists. Despite the journalists identifying themselves as members of the press, the agents threatened to break the car window and drag the occupants out if they continued following and recording.

The woman driving the car refused to lower the window, repeatedly saying “we’re not doing anything wrong”. 

Bystanders filmed the encounter before the agents returned to their vehicle and drove away.

Politicians from Italian opposition parties urged the government of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who is ideologically aligned with Trump, to protect Italian citizens and condemn the intimidation.

“Two Italian journalists have also been threatened by Trump’s political police,” said Peppe Provenzano, a politician with the centre-left Democratic Party.

“Our deepest sympathy and solidarity goes out to them. If the Meloni government has any national pride, we ask it to formally protest and distance itself once and for all. We also ask it to clarify how it intends to protect our fellow citizens who live and work in places where ICE is operating from this climate of intimidation and violence.” 

He added: “Seeing America reduced to this state by Trump’s thugs, sowing chaos, terror and death in the streets, while being covered up by the Trump administration, is truly dismaying.”