On June 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers refused ICE agents access to a parking lot at Dodger Stadium, prompting national attention along the West Coast. The incident occurred amid a surge of federal immigration enforcement across Los Angeles, which has sparked protests, confrontations, and heightened tensions in the city.
The Dodgers released a statement on X confirming the refusal of entry to ICE agents on private property. “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,” the post read.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson clarified that Customs and Border Protection units were present briefly but that their presence was unrelated to any Dodgers event.
The refusal came just hours before a scheduled game against the San Diego Padres and ahead of an initiative by the team to support communities affected by recent immigration raids. Dodgers officials reportedly intend to roll out solidarity measures for immigrant families affected by the sweeping federal actions.
Utility player Kiké Hernández also voiced public concern, condemning the raids as abusive and dehumanizing.
Local officials, including City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, praised the Dodgers for their stance and urged federal agents to leave private property, citing corporate autonomy.
“We’ve been in communication with the mayor’s office, with the Dodgers, with Dodgers security, about seeing if they can get them moved off their private property… Public property is different. Private property – businesses and corporations have the power to say, ‘Not on my property’. And so we’re waiting to see that movement happen here,” Hernandez commented to KABC-TV.
This episode unfolds in a city already on edge from ICE operations that began June 6 across workplaces and public venues. Those operations triggered widespread protests, property damage, and the deployment of over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines under President Trump’s administration.
The Dodgers’ move adds fuel to the growing divide between federal law enforcement and left-wing city leadership in California. The stadium standoff raises serious concerns about sanctuary policies overruling national security and law enforcement efforts.
California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, continue to condemn federal tactics, raising questions of jurisdiction and moral responsibility.
President Trump’s policy of workplace raids continues, with federal officials reaffirming prioritization of such operations—even as the Dodgers deny ICE entry to their venue.
