On Thursday morning, federal immigration agents in unmarked white vans and SUVs attempted to enter the parking lots of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, sparking a wave of online speculation about potential immigration enforcement at the ballpark.
Initial Confrontation and Denied Access
According to Dodgers officials, the agents were denied entry to the stadium grounds. A procession of vehicles appeared to approach the stadium’s Sunset Gate off Vin Scully Avenue around 8 a.m., but they were stopped by security at a checkpoint leading to the parking lot.
The agents then moved to the Downtown Gate near the 110 Freeway, where they gathered outside a closed parking lot fence before dispersing.
The Presence of Federal Agents
As the situation unfolded, several dozen protesters gathered near the agents, who stood around three unmarked SUVs close to the stadium’s gates but still outside the parking lot. Five agents, armed with pistols and covering their faces with gaiters, did not wear any identifying badges.
When asked by a Times reporter about their agency, the agents identified themselves as being from DHS (Department of Homeland Security) but declined to provide further details.
Protests and Public Response
By the afternoon, the protestors had dispersed, and police had arrived at the scene. The Dodgers organization released a statement saying the ICE agents had requested permission to access the parking lots but were denied entry, emphasizing that the night’s game would proceed as scheduled.
However, the situation stirred up emotions among immigrant rights groups, particularly in light of the ongoing immigration raids in Los Angeles. Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a member of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), expressed concern over the raids, stating, “Dodger Stadium is a place where Angeleno families come and have fun.”
The Government’s Stance
ICE responded to the Dodgers’ social media post by denying their presence, claiming on X (formerly Twitter) that, “We were never there.”
The Department of Homeland Security clarified that it was Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents who were near the stadium, but emphasized that their presence had nothing to do with any enforcement operation.
According to DHS, the CBP vehicles were only in the parking lot briefly and were unrelated to any operation.
Possible Connection to Home Depot Raid
Some of the vehicles seen near Dodger Stadium were believed to have been involved in a raid at a Home Depot in Hollywood earlier that morning, where several individuals were reportedly arrested.
Emily Phillips, a member of Echo Park Rapid Response, shared photos linking the same vehicles to both locations. Phillips also spoke with a CBP officer who confirmed the agents were at the stadium to process the detainees they had arrested earlier, explaining that they preferred to handle the processing away from the public eye.
Dodgers’ Response and Postponed Announcement
Amid the controversy, the Dodgers had planned to announce a response to support immigrant communities affected by the raids. However, President Stan Kasten said the announcement would be postponed due to the events surrounding the agents’ actions at the stadium.
“We continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,” Kasten stated. “But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details.”
Protests Outside the Stadium
That evening, as the Los Angeles Dodgers played against San Diego, a small group of protesters gathered outside the main gate of the stadium. Some carried signs saying, “ICE out of L.A.” and criticized President Trump’s immigration enforcement. One sign read, “If a felon can be president, then an immigrant can be a citizen.”
By 10 p.m., the group had dispersed, with only one protester remaining. The man, holding an upside-down American flag, explained that the flag symbolized the “chaos” under the current administration. He remarked, “This is an immigrant country. He’s creating so much hate against our communities of immigrants… It’s not fair.”