Federal immigration agents in a line of unmarked white vans and SUVs attempted to enter the parking lots of Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning, sparking a wave of speculation online about potential immigration enforcement at the ballpark.
But, according to Dodgers officials, the agents were denied entry to the grounds.
In photos posted on social media Thursday, a procession of vehicles appeared to attempt to enter Dodger Stadium through the ballpark’s main Sunset Gate off Vin Scully Avenue around 8 a.m. However, they were prevented from passing through a security checkpoint leading to the parking lot.
The caravan then relocated to the stadium’s Downtown Gate near the 110 Freeway. Dozens of vehicles gathered outside a closed parking lot fence, according to witnesses, before many began dispersing.
Later in the morning, several dozen protesters gathered near what remained of the agents, who stood around three unmarked SUVs closer to the stadium’s entry gates but still outside the stadium parking lot.
Five agents — several covering their faces with gaiters and armed with pistols — stood between the vehicles. They did not wear identifying items or badges. When asked by a Times reporter which agency they were with, they said “DHS” and declined to comment further.
Eventually, police came to the scene and the agents drove away. The crowd of several dozen dispersed by the afternoon.
According to a statement by the team, the agents were denied entry to the Dodger Stadium grounds when they attempted to enter the parking lots.
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“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,” the statement said.
But both the Department of Homeland Security and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials took to social media to address Thursday’s events.
Responding to the team’s post on social media, ICE posted on X: “False. We were never there.”
The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, said it was Customs and Border Protection agents who were at the stadium, but not for an operation.
“This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,” the agency said.
A Los Angeles Police Department source, who requested anonymity in order to discuss internal matters, said federal agents had gathered near the stadium to conduct a briefing but had left by the time images of the gathering began circulating on social media.
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However, at least some of the vehicles outside Dodger Stadium were believed to have been involved in an immigration raid at a Home Depot in Hollywood earlier in the morning, where several people were seen being arrested.
Emily Phillips, an Echo Park Rapid Response community member, shared photos with The Times of two vehicles that were at both the Hollywood Home Depot and Dodger Stadium on Thursday, as identified by their license plates.
Phillips also said a CBP officer at Dodger Stadium told her the agents were there to process the people they had arrested.
“We bring the detainees here to process them and conduct our investigation without public interference,” the agent said, according to Phillips, who wrote down his quote. “We can’t do it in the Home Depot parking lot because the public makes it dangerous.”
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Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment about the agents’ actions at Dodger Stadium.
Among those protesting outside the stadium were members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA.
“The fact that these raids continue is what we Angelenos should be very concerned about,” said CHIRLA member Jorge-Mario Cabrera, who was in contact with fellow members monitoring activity at the stadium Thursday. “Dodger Stadium is a place where Angeleno families come and have fun.”
The Dodgers have been under pressure since the raids began this month to make a statement in support of immigrants. The team also came under fire from some fans after singer and social media personality Nezza sang a Spanish version of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium in an act of protest against the immigration raids, despite being asked by a team employee to sing in English.
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On Wednesday, the team said it intended to announce plans on Thursday to assist the immigrant communities recently affected in Los Angeles.
But on Thursday, Dodgers President Stan Kasten said that announcement was being postponed “because of the events earlier today.”
“We continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,” Kasten said. “But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details. We’ll get back to you soon with the timing.”
Staff writers Jack Flemming, Libor Jany, Andrew Campa and Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
