Team USA curler Rich Ruohonen has publicly criticised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Winter Olympics, describing what he called aggressive and unlawful enforcement actions in his home state of Minnesota.
Ruohonen, a Minnesota native and practicing attorney, made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Italy, where he is competing in his first Olympic Games.
“First of all, I’d like to say I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA, and to represent our country, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it’s been for everybody,” Ruohonen said.
“This stuff is happening right, right around where we live, and uh, I am a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution and it allows us to freedom of press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, and makes it that we have to, you know, have probable cause to be pulled over. And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of grey. It’s clear.”
He also commended residents in Minnesota who he said had stood up against what they view as unjust practices, linking their actions to broader American values.
“We are playing for Team USA, and we are playing for each other, our family, and our friends who sacrificed so much to get here today,” Ruohonen said.
“That doesn’t change anything because what the Olympics means is excellence, respect, and friendship, and we all, I think, exemplify that — and we’re playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values.”
Ruohonen’s comments have sparked mixed reactions online. Some supporters praised him for speaking out, while others criticised the injection of political commentary into a global sporting event.
“It’s a global event that brings people together, and injecting politics can be divisive,” one social media user wrote. “Can’t we just focus on the athletes and their incredible achievements?”
The 54-year-old, a two-time national champion, is the oldest member of Team USA at this year’s Winter Olympics and is making his Olympic debut.
