Los Angeles Dodgers, a professional baseball team, stated on Thursday (June 19th) that they refused to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel to enter the sports stadium. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to this dispute.
Pictures circulated on social media on Thursday showing government vehicles turning away near Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers posted on their social media platform X, saying, “This morning, ICE personnel arrived at Dodger Stadium requesting entry into the parking lot. They were denied entry by the management. Tonight’s game will proceed as scheduled.”
Shortly after the post was made, ICE responded on X to the Dodgers’ post by saying, “Incorrect, we were not present there.”
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the agents at Dodger Stadium were not from ICE and their presence was unrelated to immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles.
“This has nothing to do with the Dodgers,” DHS stated. “The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles briefly parked at the stadium lot had no relation to any enforcement actions.”
Although both ICE and CBP fall under the Department of Homeland Security, their responsibilities differ. ICE focuses on domestic immigration enforcement, such as arresting and deporting individuals within the United States. CBP is responsible for border and port security, conducting inspections, and preventing illegal entry.
CNN reported that according to a CBP official, their vehicles were parked in a nearby lot to the stadium, with one experiencing a breakdown leading to extended stay. The CBP official insisted that the actions of the vehicles were unrelated to the activities of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team.
On Thursday, the Dodgers will face the San Diego Padres in their home game in Los Angeles. This season, the Dodgers average over 50,000 fans per home game, making them the only team in the MLB to attract such a large crowd each game. The Thursday matchup against the Padres is likely to be a highly anticipated game as these two teams are strong competitors in the National League West division.
Recently, ICE personnel have been conducting immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, leading to large-scale protest activities. In response, the federal government deployed National Guard and Marine Corps members to the city to maintain order.