The Mexican National Soccer Team has decided to change hotels in Los Angeles ahead of its opening match at the 2025 Gold Cup due to security concerns stemming from recent protests against immigration raids in the city. The team was scheduled to stay in downtown Los Angeles but, with Concacaf’s approval, will move to a hotel in an undisclosed location.
Mexico will face Dominican Republic on Saturday, June 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as part of the regional tournament. After this match, the team will head to Arlington, Texas, to play against Suriname, and then will close the group stage against Costa Rica in Las Vegas.
Protests and military deployment in LA
Protests in Los Angeles began on Friday following a series of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which resulted in more than 40 arrests.
Demonstrations intensified on Sunday, when crowds blocked a major highway and set autonomous vehicles on fire.
Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades.
In response to the growing tension, President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles.
This decision has been criticized by local and state officials, who argue that the military presence could aggravate the situation.
Official reactions
The coach of Mexico’s national soccer team, Javier Aguirre, was reluctant to comment on the protests.
This during a press conference in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where the team played a friendly match against Turkey.
I'm not going to talk about Los Angeles, I already told you
“I can’t express myself right now. We have a game against Turkey and I have no information.”
“I know what we see on television. We are thousands of miles away and I can’t express myself,” Aguirre declared.
For her part, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the violence during the protests in Los Angeles and emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations.
Sheinbaum urged the Mexican community not to fall into provocations and called on U.S. authorities to respect due process and human rights.
Recommendations
Buzzy
Given the current situation, it is recommended that Hispanic residents in the United States:
Avoid areas where protests or military deployments are taking place.
Keep informed through official sources and reliable media.
Have personal and identification documentation on hand.
Contact local immigrant support organizations in case you need legal assistance or additional information.
The Hispanic community should remain vigilant and take precautions to ensure their safety during these uncertain times.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
