LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 The Los Angeles Dodgers organization said Thursday that it asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to leave the Dodger Stadium grounds after they arrived at a parking lot near one of the gates.
Dozens of federal agents with their faces covered arrived in SUVs and cargo vans to a lot near the stadium鈥檚 Gate E entrance. A group of protesters carrying signs against ICE started amassing shortly after, local media reported.
鈥淭his 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,鈥 the team said in a statement posted on X.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the agents were not trying to enter the stadium.
鈥淭his had nothing to do with the Dodgers. (Customs and Border Protection) vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement," she said in an email.
The team said the game against the San Diego Padres later Thursday will be played as planned.
Television cameras showed about four agents remained at the lot Thursday afternoon while officers with the Los Angeles Police Department stood between them and dozens of protesters, some carrying signs that read 鈥淚 Like My Ice Crushed鈥 and chanting 鈥淚CE out of LA!鈥
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez arrived at the stadium and said she had been in communication with Dodger officials and the mayor鈥檚 office.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been in communication with the mayor鈥檚 office, with the Dodgers, with Dodgers security, about seeing if they can get them moved off their private property,鈥 she told KABC-TV. 鈥淧ublic property is different. Private property -- businesses and corporations have the power to say, 鈥楴ot on my property,鈥 And so we鈥檙e waiting to see that movement happen here.鈥
Protests began June 6 after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire the following days, and with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades.
The team has yet to make a statement regarding the arrests and raids. The Dodgers鈥 heavily Latino fan base have been pushing for the and ignited a debate online about its stance on the immigration crackdown happening in Los Angeles.
The Trump administration has activated more than 4,000 春色直播 Guard members and 700 Marines over the objections of city and state leaders. Dozens of troops now guard federal buildings and protect federal agents making arrests.
The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown in the city of around 4 million people. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids.
Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting ICE present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom.
