LA Dodgers say they denied federal agents access to Dodger Stadium parking lots
Federal agents drove to Dodger Stadium's parking entrances in an apparent effort to use the vast lots as a staging area, but did not gain entry to the venerable Los Angeles ballpark, the Dodgers said in a statement Thursday.
Shortly after 10 a.m. PDT, a caravan of vans and other vehicles appeared at multiple parking lot entry points, according to social media posts. An overhead view of the caravan, captured by Fox 11 Los Angeles, indicated the presence of Department of Homeland Security officers.
'This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization,' the Dodgers said in a statement. 'Tonight's game will be played as scheduled.'
ICE disputed the Dodgers' claim, telling USA TODAY Sports in a statement that they "were never there." DHS posted that the presence of agents "had nothing to do with the Dodgers" and that "CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement."
CBP and ICE are both law enforcement agencies operating under the Department of Homeland Security and regularly collaborate, notably in a recent raid on a horse racing track in Louisiana.
The agents photographed standing around were completely masked and one had a "Border Patrol Federal Agent" patch on his vest.
In the ensuing hours, a small group of protestors arrived at Gate E, chanting at the agents outside the stadium gates. Eventually, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived.
The Dodgers were scheduled to play the San Diego Padres at 7:10 PDT, with a celebrity softball game hosted by All-Star Mookie Betts preceding the game at 5:30. A crowd of more than 50,000 was expected for the game.
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'This is another example of the federal administration doing everything in their power to strike fear and hurt hardworking families,' said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, director of communications for California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The unscheduled arrival of federal officers was the latest twist in a saga pitting President Donald Trump's desire to deport large amounts of undocumented persons against cities aiming to salvage due process for residents.
Los Angeles is one of the cities specifically targeted by Trump, with nearly two weeks of aggressive raids in the Southland, sparking widespread protests and aggressive reaction from both LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriffs.
Dodgers players remained largely mum on the issue, until veteran utilityman Kiké Hernández released a statement on Instagram pledging support for Latinos profiled, arrested and disappeared under ICE.
Manager Dave Roberts professed not having enough information to weigh in on the issue, though the franchise came under more scrutiny for its lack of support after R&B singer Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, and posted videos and correspondence showing it was against the Dodgers' wishes.
That led to a Dodgers spokesperson telling reporters Wednesday that they would announce 'plans for assistance to immigrant communities impacted by the recent events in Los Angeles.' Barely 12 hours later, the DHS vehicles showed up at the stadium. By the evening, Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten said the planned announcement would be delayed "because of the events earlier today."
The Dodgers' fan base is heavily Latino, and in the past week right-wing influencers have entered the fray, with one noting that it would be 'amazing' if ICE agents staged a raid at Dodger Stadium.
This story was updated to include new information.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA Dodgers say ICE was denied entry to Dodger Stadium parking lots
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