Rich Ruohonen criticises ICE at 2026 Winter Olympics
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, American curler Rich Ruohonen, who competes for Team USA, used a press conference to sharply criticise the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in his home state of Minnesota, saying what is happening there is fundamentally wrong. Ruohonen, a 54-year-old alternate on the men’s curling team and a lawyer from Minnesota, spoke about the issue after curling practice and before competition began.
In his remarks, Ruohonen expressed pride in representing the United States on the Olympic stage but said he felt compelled to raise awareness about the situation in Minnesota, where ICE enforcement actions have led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens and sparked protests and controversy. He said the U.S. Constitution protects freedoms of speech and against unreasonable searches and seizures, and that the enforcement tactics being used “are wrong” and leave “no shades of grey” regarding constitutional rights. He also praised people in Minnesota for showing compassion, integrity and respect for one another during protests against the federal sweeps.
Ruohonen’s comments reflect a growing trend of Olympic athletes speaking out on social and political issues affecting their home country while competing on the global stage. His stance drew attention from media and observers both in Italy and back home in the United States, where debates over immigration enforcement and civil liberties remain heated.
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