Mexico’s President Asks for No ICE Raids During LA Soccer Match

“No ICE raids during the Mexico game.” That’s the plea Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made to the U.S. on Friday—just one day before tens of thousands of fans poured into SoFi Stadium for the Gold Cup match in Los Angeles.

But President Donald Trump isn’t budging.

Sheinbaum, Mexico’s newly elected left-wing president, stood before reporters and asked that U.S. immigration agents stand down as Mexican nationals gather in Southern California for the soccer match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

“We don’t believe that there will be any raids if there’s a soccer game,” Sheinbaum told reporters Friday. “We call for no action from ICE.”

Her request comes as Los Angeles continues to reel from a string of high-profile immigration enforcement actions that have targeted illegal immigrants in the city’s fashion district and construction zones, including Home Depot parking lots.

Trump Responds: “We Saved L.A.”

President Trump made it clear there would be no pause in enforcement.

In a Friday night post on Truth Social, Trump praised a 9th Circuit Court ruling that upheld his authority to deploy National Guard troops to California.

“The Appeals Court ruled last night that I can use the National Guard to keep our cities, in this case Los Angeles, safe,” Trump wrote. “If I didn’t send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A. Thank you for the Decision!!!”

Following the unrest and violent protests sparked by recent ICE operations, Trump ordered Marines and National Guard units into the Los Angeles metro to secure public spaces and federal buildings. Sources say law enforcement will maintain a presence at major events, including Saturday’s Gold Cup match.

Sheinbaum, speaking from Mexico City, said her administration has activated Mexican consulates across the U.S. to “support citizens who may be unjustly 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,” she said.

The Mexican national soccer team, citing safety concerns, reportedly moved their hotel accommodations from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach earlier in the week.

The Gold Cup match, held at SoFi Stadium, sits just 25 miles from where recent immigration protests turned violent. Protesters blocked freeways, torched vehicles, and clashed with police in multiple parts of the city.

Mexican soccer games in Southern California often draw massive crowds. Over 50,000 fans attended Mexico’s last major match in the area in March, when the team faced off against Canada. Security officials have warned that such events can serve as flashpoints if emotions escalate.

The enforcement push isn’t stopping in California. ICE and CBP are also preparing to secure the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup match this weekend in Miami. Attendees at Hard Rock Stadium have been warned by authorities to carry identification and proof of legal status.

A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek: “Our mission remains unchanged—we are committed to securing major events like the Super Bowl and FIFA with our federal partners.”

ICE confirmed it will be on-site and echoed the call for documentation. Meanwhile, left-wing activists continue to sound alarms on social media, claiming immigration enforcement at sporting events is “outrageous.”

President Trump is not apologizing for protecting American borders—even when foreign leaders protest. And while activists may cry foul, the majority of Americans support strong immigration enforcement—especially when national security is on the line.

As Trump put it: “We saved L.A.”