LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers said they denied federal immigration officials access to the area around the team’s stadium on Thursday morning, hours after The Athletic and other outlets reported the team’s plans to announce assistance to immigrants impacted by recent militarized raids in the city.
“This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots,” the organization posted on X. “They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization.”
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Customs and Border Protection “vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.” DHS said that the activity “had nothing to do with the Dodgers.” ICE, which is overseen by DHS, told The Athletic in a statement Thursday that the agency was never at Dodger Stadium.
In recent immigration raids, ICE and other federal officials have sometimes operated in unmarked cars. Social media videos from Dodger Stadium appear to show some unmarked white vans with unclear markings.
The Dodgers, who are set to host the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, said the game will be played as scheduled.
