FEARS of ICE raids are stopping some fans from attending the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Rumors swirled that ICE agents would be present at the Gold Cup semifinal between Mexico and Honduras.
Mexico and Honduras fans feared going to Levi’s Stadium in fear of ICE agents[/caption]
Mexico will play the United States in the Gold Cup final[/caption]
While the rumors ended up being untrue, it still discouraged some fans from attending Levi’s Stadium.
Gustavo Kamo, a naturalized American citizen that was born in Mexico, invited over 30 people to join him at the Mexico-Honduras game.
Everyone he invited declined due to the risk of ICE agents being present.
“They can’t risk it,” Kamo told the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I mean, anyone who’s having like a green card or temporary permit, a work permit, because they’re not respecting any of that.”
Mexico are the defending Gold Cup champions, and won 1-0 at Levi’s.
The stadium has a 68,500 seating capacity that can expand to more than 75,000.
The announced attendance for Mexico-Honduras was 70,975, but it isn’t clear whether that was tickets sold or the turnstiles count.
Now, Mexico will face off against the United States in a major rivalry game for the Gold Cup final.
Leo Gonzalez, a Mexican-American US Air Force Veteran and friend of Kamo said he cheers for the US national team “unless they played mexico.”
Kamo unequivocally pledged his support to Mexico in the match.
“It’d have to be a major change, dude, I just can’t do it right now,” he said.
“I’m a US citizen, dude, I’m walking with [the thought] ‘Okay what do I say if I get stopped?’”
Gonzalez shared that when he heard rumors of ICE’s presence at Levi’s his thought was “They can f*** right off.”
The game ended up going on without a hitch, and while it didn’t visibly look like a sellout, Mexico fans made their presence known.
Mexico are the reigning Gold Cup champions[/caption]
“When I was coming out, I was getting beers from everybody left and right,” Kamo said.
“Dude, I was hungry, starving when I parked. When I got the gate, I was full, I was happy.
“I just don’t want to see this country be so divided.”
While Mexico fans are some of the best in the world, Gonzalez thinks they will be more mellow against the US national team due to the present state of the country.
“I do think ‘La Raza’ is a little more tranquil, they’re a little more subdued, because if this wasn’t going on right now with ICE and everything, it would be like 10 times rowdier right now,” he said.
