Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday urged U.S. authorities not to conduct immigration enforcement targeting attendees of a Gold Cup soccer match in Inglewood, California, where Mexico‘s team is due to play the Dominican Republic on Saturday.
Her comments followed recent raids by immigration authorities in the Los Angeles area targeting undocumented migrants under policies associated with President Donald Trump’s administration, which have sparked protests across major cities.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in a now-deleted post to social media, had also promised to be “suited and booted” at the first round of Club World Cup soccer matches, the curtain-raiser event for next year’s World Cup.
“We don’t believe that at any soccer match there will be any [immigration] action. … We call for none to be taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Sheinbaum said in her morning news conference.
Asked if she would still advise fans to attend Saturday’s match at SoFi Stadium, Sheinbaum noted that Mexican consulates in the U.S. have established protocols to assist citizens if detained.
“This campaign we are carrying out through the consulates will provide all the information on what to do if detained, as well as ongoing contact with families,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for immigration authorities not to target fans attending Gold Cup games in the U.S. Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images
In response to its social media post, CBP said it regularly provides security at big sporting events.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA Club World Cup 25 is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl. Our mission remains unchanged,” it told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Sheinbaum also addressed viral social media images of demonstrators in Los Angeles holding Mexican flags, dismissing them as “potential provocations.”
“Mexico will always promote peace,” she said, adding that its nationals in the U.S. are hardworking individuals who do not seek to incite violence.
Usually, the Mexican national team matches attract large crowds whenever it plays in Southern California. Its last match there was in March, when more than 50,000 fans attended a Nations League semifinal against Canada.
For safety concerns, the Mexican national team decided to change hotels earlier in the week and moved from downtown to Long Beach.
Mexico will play its next two Concacaf Gold Cup group stage matches in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas. The tournament also features Central American countries with sizable migrant populations in the United States.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.
