Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday urged U.S. authorities not to conduct immigration enforcement targeting attendees of a Gold Cup soccer match in Los Angeles on Saturday, where Mexico‘s team is due to play the Dominican Republic.
Her comments followed recent raids by immigration authorities in Los Angeles targeting undocumented migrants, under policies associated with the President Donald Trump’s administration, which have sparked protests across major cities.
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 press 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.
In response to its social media post, the 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. were hardworking individuals who do not seek to incite violence.
Mexico will play its next two Concacaf Gold Cup group stage matches in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. 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.