Agents from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to enter Dodger Stadium this Thursday, but the team denied them entry, the organization reported on its social media.
“This morning, ICE agents showed up at Dodger Stadium and requested access to the parking lots. The organization denied them entry to the facilities. Tonight’s game will proceed as scheduled,” the team posted on X.
A video broadcasted by the affiliate network KABC showed federal agents stationed on one of the streets near the stadium.
So far, the exact reason for the presence of these agents at Dodger Stadium has not been officially clarified. CNN reported that they requested comments from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, but did not receive an immediate response.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Times reported that the agents present at the stadium declined to explain their purpose.
The presence of federal agents occurs amid an increase in immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration, which has sparked protests, especially in Southern California.
Los Ángeles has been the scene of demonstrations in recent weeks, motivated by ICE operations that have generated fear in local migrant communities.
It is expected that the Dodgers will announce a plan to support the immigrant community affected by these recent immigration actions this Thursday.
The intervention of federal agents comes just a few days after singer Vanessa Hernández, known as Nezza, performed the U.S. national anthem in Spanish last Saturday. Initially, she had planned to sing it in a mix of English and Spanish (Spanglish), but due to recent immigration raids, she decided to perform it solely in Spanish.
An employee on the team suggested not to do it, but Hernandez ignored the advice and carried out the interpretation in Spanish.
His presentation coincided with massive demonstrations in several cities across the country during the “No Kings” protest, while tension persists in Los Angeles due to recent ICE raids.
Although the organization has not directly addressed the discomfort caused by the immigration operations in the city, Dodgers’ star player, Kike Hernandez, who hails from Puerto Rico, expressed his support for Los Angeles through a post on Instagram.