The Los Angeles Dodgers said they denied Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents access to their stadium parking lot Thursday morning as protesters gathered in opposition to the federal agency’s attempted presence, but ICE says they were never there.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the LA Dodgers by email on Thursday for comment.
Why It Matters
ICE and DHS have expanded their operations both in Los Angeles and across the country as President Donald Trump seeks to deliver on his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in United States history.
ICE conducted raids in Los Angeles and faced large protests in the city that largely remained peaceful with some instances of violence that prompted Trump to order the deployment of 4,000 members of California’s National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to assist in stopping violence, even as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisted local law enforcement had the matter under control.
The raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, but critics have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants by federal authorities as well as the tactics used by immigration agents during the raids.
What To Know
In a message posted on X, the Dodgers wrote that ICE agents tried to access the stadium’s parking lot, but the organization denied them access. The team anticipates no disruption to Thursday’s scheduled game against the San Diego Padres.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told Newsweek that the department had received a call from the Dodgers at 10:28 a.m. local time to address a crowd of protesters that was gathering in the parking lot. Members of the Northeast Division responded to the request.
“LAPD officers arrived and assisted with keeping the peace,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson could not speak to how big the crowd was, nor how many officers had responded to the request, but did say that the situation was ongoing and officers remain on the scene as of this afternoon.
However, by around 3:10 p.m. ET, the LAPD had escorted the remaining ICE agents away from the premises, according to video captured and posted on X by Fox LA helicopter reporter Kevin Takumi.
An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek in an email statement: “ICE was never at Dodgers stadium, and thus never tried to gain access.”
It remains unclear what ICE’s intended operation entailed or whether anyone in the area had been arrested. The parking lot is jointly owned by the Dodgers’ ownership group and the team’s former owner, according to the Los Angeles Times.
What People Are Saying
The Los Angeles Dodgers, in a statement on X, wrote: “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.”
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan, during an appearance on Fox News this week, said: “When they double down, we triple down! So, the Men and Women of ICE are going to keep standing up, they’re going to keep doing the job. They’re working for the Greatest President in my Lifetime…His Success on the Border — We’ve got the Most Secure Border in the History of the Nation today. Criminal Threats, Illegal Alien Criminal Threats, arrested and deported, are at a Record High, much higher than Joe Biden!”
What Happens Next
The Dodgers play the Padres at 10:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, with the Padres seeking to avoid a sweep after dropping two close games to the Dodgers.
ICE operations will continue in California, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to issue a decision on the injunction against Trump’s use of the National Guard in California. The court heard arguments on Tuesday.
Update 6/19/25, 4:35 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 6/19/25, 3:47 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
