Sheinbaum Asks No to ICE Raids at Gold Cup Matches

Sheinbaum Asks the U.S. Not to Conduct Immigration Operations During the Gold Cup Match

Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, urged U.S. authorities not to carry out immigration control actions targeting attendees of the Gold Cup soccer match in Los Angeles on Saturday. In this match, the Mexican national team will face the Dominican Republic. His statements come after recent raids by immigration authorities in Los Angeles, focused on undocumented immigrants. These policies, associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, have generated protests in various major cities. Previously, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in a deleted social media post, had promised to be “ready and prepared” for the FIFA Club World Cup matches, an event preceding next year’s World Cup.

We do not believe there will be any [migratory] action in any soccer game… We ask that no measures be taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office.

Claudia Sheinbaum

When asked if she would advise fans to attend Saturday’s match at SoFi Stadium, Sheinbaum pointed out that Mexican consulates in the U.S. have established protocols to assist citizens in case of detention.

In response to the social media post, CBP assured that it regularly provides security at large sporting events. Sheinbaum also addressed viral images on social media of protesters in Los Angeles carrying Mexican flags, dismissing them as “potential provocations”. Mexico will play its next two group stage matches of the Concacaf Gold Cup in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament also includes Central American countries with significant migrant populations in the United States.