LOS ANGELES — Federal brokers with america Division of Homeland Safety arrange exterior Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning, sparking outrage on social media and triggering extra protests in opposition to immigration enforcement within the metropolis.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who stated they denied the federal brokers entry to the stadium’s parking zone, subsequently postponed plans to unveil initiatives to help native immigrant communities.
“Due to the occasions earlier at present, we proceed to work with teams that have been concerned with our packages,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten stated. “However we’re going to must delay at present’s announcement whereas we agency up some extra particulars. We’ll get again to you quickly with the timing.”
A caravan of white, unmarked vans and SUVs arrived on the Gate A entrance of Dodger Stadium, off Vin Scully Avenue, at round 8 a.m., with brokers saying they’d detainees to course of, in response to native media stories and firsthand accounts.
The safety guard available instructed the brokers that they weren’t allowed on personal property, prompting federal officers to circle exterior to Gate E, the downtown-facing entrance to the ballpark’s parking zone the place dozens of protesters gathered.
The Los Angeles Police Division later arrived on the scene, and everybody was dispersed by round midday PT.
Thursday’s sport in opposition to the San Diego Padres can be performed as scheduled.
The Dodgers initially posted on their X account that the federal officers have been with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The federal company, nonetheless, refuted its presence at Dodger Stadium via its X account.
“False,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted. “We have been by no means there.”
The Division of Homeland Safety stated the brokers have been with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which tried to entry the stadium.
“This has nothing to do with the Dodgers,” DHS posted to X. “CBP automobiles have been within the parking zone very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”
ICE and CBP are each federal companies beneath the Division of Homeland Safety.
Protests in opposition to ICE raids in Los Angeles started earlier this month after federal brokers arrested dozens of employees within the metropolis. Protesters blocked a serious freeway and set automobiles on hearth within the following days, prompting police to reply with tear gasoline, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades.
Within the wake of these protests, and a choice by President Donald Trump’s administration to activate greater than 4,000 Nationwide Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines over the objection of metropolis and state leaders, the Dodgers caught flak for not making any public statements in assist of immigrants.
The crew solidified plans to work with immigration teams earlier this week and was planning to unveil them Thursday, till the presence of federal brokers additional infected the state of affairs.
Regardless of the protests, immigration-enforcement exercise has continued all through Los Angeles, with metropolis leaders and group teams reporting ICE presence at libraries, automobile washes and residential enchancment shops. College graduations within the metropolis have elevated safety over fears of ICE motion, with some colleges providing dad and mom the choice to look at by way of stay streams.
The Related Press contributed to this report.