Federal immigration officials were refused entry to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home stadium on Thursday after requesting access to the Major League Baseball venue, the team confirmed.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at Dodger Stadium seeking permission to enter the parking areas, but the Dodgers organisation denied the request, according to a statement.
The team’s scheduled game later that day went ahead as planned.
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed a line of unmarked vehicles and masked ICE agents at one of the stadium entrances, while protesters nearby chanted slogans opposing ICE’s presence in Los Angeles.
This confrontation unfolds amid heightened tensions in the city, which has become a focal point of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts across the United States.
Recently, the city has witnessed largely peaceful protests, alongside some isolated violence, triggered by federal immigration raids targeting migrant workers in industries such as garment manufacturing and car washes.
In addition to deploying ICE agents, the Trump administration has sent thousands of National Guard members and hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles, a move criticised by local officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Dodgers, reigning World Series champions, have faced backlash over their muted response to the immigration crackdown, especially given their significant Latino fan base.
Some fans feel betrayed by the franchise’s silence during ongoing raids, with no formal team statement addressing the issue as of Thursday.
Last weekend, Latin American singer Nezza defied the team’s leadership by performing the US national anthem in Spanish at a Dodgers home game, stating, “I felt it was my duty to represent my people.”
One 27-year-old fan, Paola, told AFP outside the stadium that the Dodgers’ silence felt like “100 per cent betrayal,” highlighting the team’s large Latino support in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times columnist Dylan Hernandez criticised the Dodgers for failing to offer any words of comfort to the affected community, calling their response “ungrateful” and “cowardly.”
While the team has stayed silent, outfielder Enrique Hernandez spoke out against the raids on Instagram, expressing sadness and anger over the situation in Los Angeles.
“This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused, and ripped apart,” wrote Hernandez, originally from Puerto Rico. “All people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and human rights.”
