Immigration raids leave Mexico football fans to the limit in the Gold Cup

They played a football game at the Sofi Stadium on Saturday.

He didn't care much about many people.

Mexico won, beating the Dominican Republic 3-2 in the first game of the Concacaf Golden Cup of one month. However, even the team's greatest fans were difficult to celebrate given what was happening to only a dozen miles away, where hundreds of people protested in front of the police, the National Guard troops and the US marines during the eighth day of protests on federal immigration raids directed to the Latin community.

“When the Mexican team plays, it's a celebration, right? But no, it wasn't,” said the colonel, the Guerre Nom From the leader of the “Pancho Villa Army”, the largest defenders of the Mexican national team in the United States, a group initiated by Sergio Tristan, a lawyer from Texas and colonel of the National Guard who spent 30 months in the first line in Iraq as a children's man of the US army.

They could not celebrate because many in the Latin community of southern California, citizens and immigrants, documented and no, were being attacked by ice agents. Then they remained away from Saturday's game, believing that it would be an atmosphere rich in targets for ice.

In response, Pancho Villa's army limited his barracks to his band and canceled his party traditionally cheerful prior to the butt on Saturday. Cielto Lindo and the patterns of Mexico, the other two groups of important supporters of the national team in the United States, did the same.

“We don't feel good celebrating with music and food [when] Our brothers, sisters, cousins ​​and mothers suffer from what is happening, “said the colonel, who attended the game as a civilian, with a blue hoodie instead of a national team shirt.” While others are suffering, it simply does not seem correct. “

Last week, the National Security Department announced on social networks that federal agents would provide security for the FIFA Club World Cup, which also began on Saturday in southern Florida, which raised concerns that fans attending football matches could be destined for immigration sweeps. The presence of security at the Sofi stadium was normal, however, visibly limited to uniformed police officers and the omnipresent workers dressed as contemporary Services Corp., a private company.

“Everything,” said the colonel, stirring a sigh of relief, “it's quiet.”

But he fears what could happening left most of the upper cover of Sofi empty and the lower bowl only full. Mexico's last three games in Sofi attracted an average assistance of more than 64,000; On Saturday he drew a crowd often subject to the announcing at 54,309.

Carmen García de El Monte came, but reluctantly. She bought a $ 350 VIP ticket a month ago, but had doubts once the ice raids began.

“I tried to get a refund,” he said in Spanish. “They said no. So we are here, but we are not happy.”

One of those who did not enter was Daniel Fuentes de Los Angeles, who in his place met with a group of anti-there protesters on the other side of the Stadium Street a couple of hours before the game.

“I am a football fan, but today we are not for football,” he said in Spanish. “It is not just what Donald Trump is doing, raising our workers who say they are criminals and that it is not.

“The Latinos are furious against us, saying that we are the worst.”

The rear gate fans in the Sofi stadium parking lot before a match of the Concacaf Gold Cup between Mexico and the Dominican Republic on Saturday.

(Wally Skalij / Associated Press)

The Mexican Football Federation generates approximately one third of its annual income in the US. Through the revenues of the day, television rights and sponsorship agreements promoted by the large base of US Mexican and Mexican fans in the country. The American team before the 2022 World Cup, for example, generated $ 31 million.

But although those fans have long backed the team, given the opportunity to return the favor, the team decided to remain silent. The media were told coach Javier Aguirre, the son of Spanish immigrants born in Mexico, and his players only answered questions about football.

Mexico, the current Gold Cup champion, began slowly by opening his defense of his title in the 16 team biennial tournament. The Dominican Republic, ranked 139 in the world and played in the Confederation championship for the first time, frustrated “El Tri” during most of the first half before an Edson Alvarez header put Mexico ahead to stay a minute before the intermediate.

Raúl Jiménez took the crowd of his stupor less than two minutes in the second half, chasing a ball through Santiago Giménez to the penalty area, then ending with the right foot from the edge of the six -yard box to double the advantage.

Peter González reduced the deficit for the Dominican Republic in the 51st minute before César Montes de México and Edison Azcona de Dominican exchanged 14 -minute scores.

Montes's goal was first, in a header that bounced a couple of players before it opened just inside the left goal in the 53rd minute.

Azcona responded with a shot of the right feet from the left wing that bounced in a couple of Mexican defenders and the goalkeeper Luis Malagón.

The teams move to Arlington, Texas, for their second group game games on Wednesday, with Mexico facing Surinam and the Dominican Republic playing Costa Rica. The US opened its Gold Cup schedule on Sunday in San José against Trinidad and Tobago.

The personnel writer Eduard Cauich contributed to this story.