The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines when they recently refused to allow U.S. immigration enforcement agents to enter the parking lot at Dodger Stadium. Thursday morning, DHS agents—including personnel from ICE and the U.S. But when it came time to apply, the organization rejected them. This dramatic decision came against the backdrop of significant fear in LA’s immigrant community over the last month due to a series of aggressive and highly publicized immigration raids.
In response to the criticism, Dodgers’ officials issued a statement saying that ICE agents tried to enter the parking lots but were refused entry. They promised their fans that the game originally scheduled would go on, just as planned, even after the terrible event. ORIGINAL POST “This morning, ICE agents showed up to Dodger Stadium and asked for permission to enter the stadium parking lots. Yet they were turned away at the gates by the defending organization. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled,” Dodgers said.
Afterward, Dodgers’ beat writer Jack Harris reported on X that ICE agents had taken over the stadium parking lot. This decision raised alarm bells among supporters and community members. “Regarding the photos going around on social media this morning about ICE agents at Dodger Stadium: sources say ICE agents tried to access Dodger Stadium today, but were denied entry to the grounds by the team,” he noted.
Supporters of immigrant rights immediately jumped to action. Warning signs were ignored, and they began to demonstrate outside the stadium the same day unnamed sources leaked news of the incident. Protesters waved signs with slogans such as “I Like My Ice Crushed.” Their voices rang in resounding phrases like “ICE out of LA!” The Los Angeles Police Department were able to provide a buffer between the protesters and DHS agents by placing officers in the middle, thus avoiding an escalation.
Council member Eunisses Hernandez, who has been in communication with both the mayor’s office and the Dodgers, expressed support for the team’s actions. We’ve been in communication with the mayor’s office, with the Dodgers, with Dodgers security, about seeing if they can get them moved off their private property,” she explained.
The Dodgers have promised to announce more initiatives later this week. Together, these initiatives will help uphold immigrant communities targeted by recent ICE raids. Instead, they’re choosing to get out in front. This partnership is a great way to show their solidarity while so many in the area are experiencing distress.
In a symbolic act during a celebratory event at Dodger Stadium, singer Vanessa Hernández, known by her stage name Nezza, performed the national anthem in Spanish. This decision was in direct opposition to the continued, daily immigration raids. It further underscored the Dodgers’ deep ties to and support for their local immigrant communities.
As tensions continued to run high, DHS agents were still being observed in the mall parking lot on Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection sought to clarify. They reported that the agents’ presence had nothing to do with any particular detected operation to target people at the stadium. “This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,” said Tricia McLaughlin.
The Dodgers’ decision to deny entry to ICE reflects a growing trend among organizations and businesses asserting their rights over private property in response to federal immigration enforcement actions. As Congress and the Biden administration negotiate on future immigration policies, immigrants, advocates, and local community leaders are urging them to include more robust protections for vulnerable populations.