Los Angeles Dodgers Deny ICE Agents Entry Into Stadium
The Los Angeles Dodgers said this week that they denied US Immigration Enforcement (ICE) Agents access into the parking lot of Dodgers Stadium.
“This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots,” the team posted to their social media.
“They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.”
Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said that ICE agents “were never there. This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”
Immigrant communities in Los Angeles have been on high alert as of late as homeland security and ICE agents have begun raiding workplaces, public parking lots, and more as they search for undocumented individuals.
Since LA has been such a major target as of late, Dodgers stadium began responding to rumors of raids as the team has a large Latino fanbase, which could make them a potential target.
Several local LA journalists this week have observed and reported dozens of DHS vehicles with masked officers near the stadium, and the agents refused to comment on why they were there when asked by a Los Angeles Times reporter.
One source told the LA Times reporter that the federal agents were meeting near the stadium for a briefing and left once they noticed an increased presence of reporters and photographers that were immediately posting the meetings on social media.
“Ice agents are taking up positions at the entrances to Dodger Stadium, media and crowd beginning to arrive,” Kevin Takumi, a videographer and photographer for Fox’s Los Angeles affiliate, wrote. Takumi posted a video online showing several vans and SUVs.
Jack Harris, the Dodgers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times, said: “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.”
“Ice agents attempted to access Dodger Stadium this morning but were denied by the Dodgers. Images had circulated this morning of agents appearing to use the parking lots as a staging area,” Fabian Ardaya, a journalist who covers the Dodgers for The Athletic, wrote.
Eunisses Hernandez, an LA city council member, said: “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.”
“Public property is different. 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.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.