Tensions flared outside Dodger Stadium Thursday morning after federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security attempted to access the stadium grounds, triggering swift backlash from immigrant rights advocates and social media users.
According to reports and eyewitness accounts, a convoy of unmarked white vans and SUVs arrived at Gate A of Dodger Stadium off Vin Scully Avenue around 8 a.m. Agents reportedly stated they were there to process detainees. A security guard denied them access, informing the officials that they could not enter the privately owned parking lot. The vehicles then moved to Gate E, closer to downtown Los Angeles, where a crowd of protesters had already begun to gather.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene, and the area was cleared by midday. Despite the incident, the Dodgers’ scheduled home game against the San Diego Padres went on without interruption.
In response, Dodgers President Stan Kasten announced a delay in the team’s planned rollout of new community initiatives aimed at supporting local immigrant populations.
“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.”
Initially, the Dodgers posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the agents were from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, ICE quickly denied involvement on their own X account, writing, “False. We were never there.”
The Department of Homeland Security later clarified that the agents were part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a separate agency under DHS. According to DHS, CBP officers were on-site only “very briefly” and their presence was “unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”
Though the federal agencies insisted the stop was unrelated to any enforcement activity, the incident reignited concerns in Los Angeles’ large immigrant community and added fuel to ongoing protests against federal immigration policy.