12 hours ago
Dodgers deny ICE agents entry to stadium amid protests and immigration crackdown in Los Angeles
The
Los Angeles Dodgers
found themselves at the center of a citywide immigration controversy on Thursday, after the team denied entry to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who arrived at Dodger Stadium as demonstrators protested ongoing raids throughout the city.
According to statements from the Dodgers, a convoy of ICE agents and Department of Homeland Security vehicles arrived at several parking lot entrances near the stadium early Thursday morning, seeking permission to access the grounds. The organization made it clear: '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 team announced on social media.
On this, the ICE responded to the Dodgers on social media saying "False. We were never there."
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Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin clarified that the agents were not attempting to enter the stadium, adding, 'This had nothing to do with the Dodgers.
Customs and Border Protection vehicles
were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement'.
Nevertheless, the presence of federal agents- faces covered, arriving in SUVs and cargo vans- sparked immediate concern and confusion among fans, staff, and city officials.
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Shortly after the agents' arrival, demonstrators gathered at the stadium's Gate E entrance, wielding signs reading 'ICE out of LA!' and 'I Like My Ice Crushed,' while chanting for the agents to leave. Television footage captured Los Angeles Police Department officers forming a barrier between the agents and the protesters, as the standoff drew city council members and local media to the scene.
Council member Eunisses Hernandez, who was in communication with Dodgers officials and the mayor's office, emphasized the distinction between public and private property: 'Businesses and corporations have the power to say, 'Not on my property.' And so we're waiting to see that movement happen here'.
The Dodgers, whose fanbase is predominantly Latino, have faced mounting pressure to take a public stance on the
immigration crackdown
. The organization was reportedly preparing to announce plans to assist immigrant communities affected by the recent events. Veteran player Kiké Hernández voiced his dismay on
Instagram
, expressing solidarity with Latinos who have been profiled, detained, or separated from their families by ICE.
Despite the day's tensions, the Dodgers confirmed that their scheduled game against the San Diego Padres would proceed as planned, with more than 50,000 fans expected in attendance.
