The Los Angeles Dodgers prevented federal immigration agents from accessing parking areas at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, as tensions continued to escalate across California over enforcement actions led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a statement released by the team on social media, federal agents sought permission to enter the stadium grounds ahead of Thursday night’s game.
“They were denied entry to the grounds by the organisation,” the post read. “Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.”
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. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2025
Conflicting accounts followed. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the presence of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles near the site, stating they were on the premises “very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”
However, ICE refuted the Dodgers’ version of events entirely, writing in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We were never there.”
Social media speculation of federal activity near the stadium drew demonstrators to the scene later in the day.
According to the Los Angeles Times, armed individuals with obscured faces stood beside unmarked vehicles just outside the stadium’s perimeter.
Local police intervened, ensuring the vehicles’ departure without further incident.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) later clarified its role in a statement, saying officers were only present “to facilitate the safe departure of the vehicles from the area.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticised the federal government’s approach.
“This is another example of the federal administration doing everything in their power to strike fear and hurt hardworking families,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, the governor’s communications director.
Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in recent weeks as ICE operations ramp up across Southern California.
Earlier this month, agents carried out multiple arrests in the downtown area, sparking mass demonstrations that, at times, turned chaotic. Police reportedly deployed tear gas and rubber bullets, with journalists among those struck.
President Donald Trump’s administration has publicly committed to dramatically increasing domestic deportation efforts.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller previously stated that the goal is 3,000 arrests per day. Last week, border policy adviser Tom Homan said arrests had already reached approximately 2,000 daily.
MAJOR BREAKING: In a massive blow to Trump’s deportation machine, The ICE agents who attempted to gain entry at Dodger Stadium have been REFUSED entry and have been escorted out by LAPD. Good riddance.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) June 19, 2025
The Dodgers’ move comes amid plans to increase support for immigrant communities in the region.
Manager Dave Roberts addressed the broader unrest in a recent press conference, noting, “When you’re having to bring people in and deport people … it’s certainly unsettling for everyone.”
Several players and figures associated with the team have also spoken out.
Utility player Kiké Hernández, originally from Puerto Rico, posted on Instagram: “I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.”
During a home game last weekend, singer Nezza performed the national anthem in Spanish while wearing a Dominican Republic shirt — defying reported instructions to sing it in English.
The Dodgers’ ties to the Latino community run deep, rooted in part in the legacy of Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, whose success in the 1980s sparked the phenomenon known as “Fernandomania.”
The team lost to the San Diego Padres on Thursday night 5-3 at Dodger Stadium.
