The Los Angeles Dodgers organization publicly expressed its actions on Thursday after federal immigration agents arrived at Dodger Stadium. According to a statement from the team, federal agents requested permission to access a parking lot near Gate E of the stadium but were subsequently denied entry by the organization.
Local media reported that dozens of federal agents in SUVs and cargo vans, with faces covered, arrived at the parking lot, which attracted a group of protesters holding signs opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The situation escalated as demonstrators began assembling in response to the agents' presence, chanting slogans like "ICE out of LA!" and displaying signs such as "I Like My Ice Crushed."
In a clarification, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied that its agents were present at the stadium. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that the agents in question were with Customs and Border Protection, explaining they were not attempting to enter the stadium but were instead in the parking lot briefly and unrelated to any operation or enforcement activities.
Despite the controversy surrounding the agents' presence, the Dodgers confirmed that their scheduled game against the San Diego Padres would proceed as planned. By Thursday afternoon, a few agents remained at the parking lot while Los Angeles Police Department officers maintained a boundary between them and the growing crowd of protesters.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez arrived on-site and stated that she had been in contact with Dodger officials and the mayor's office regarding the situation. She emphasized the distinction between private and public property, indicating that businesses have the authority to refuse entry to agents on their property. Both local officials and community members were waiting for further developments regarding the federal agents' presence on Dodger Stadium's private grounds.
The protests stemmed from federal immigration raids that occurred on June 6, resulting in the arrests of numerous workers in Los Angeles. In subsequent days, demonstrators blocked major freeways and resorted to setting cars on fire, prompting a substantial police response involving tear gas and rubber bullets. Following these events, the Dodgers faced increasing pressure from their predominantly Latino fan base to issue a statement denouncing the federal immigration enforcement actions.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Dodgers had not yet released a statement regarding the recent raids and arrests, despite expectations of a public endorsement for affected communities. Dodgers President Stan Kasten mentioned to reporters that the organization was still coordinating with involved groups and would postpone any official announcement until further details were finalized.
The Trump administration has mobilized over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to bolster federal operations amidst rising tensions in Los Angeles. These deployments have occurred despite objections from local city and state leaders. Currently, dozens of troops are stationed at federal buildings to safeguard agents conducting immigration enforcement.
Protests have mainly centered around downtown Los Angeles, where peaceful rallies have taken place outside City Hall, along with significant demonstrations outside a federal complex housing a detention center for immigrants. Community reports indicate that ICE activity persists throughout the county, leading to heightened security at school graduations and increased fears among families regarding potential immigration enforcement actions.
