Federal agents were spotted near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, sparking confusion and conflicting accounts from the Major League Baseball franchise and U.S. immigration agencies. The incident unfolded amidst heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement across Southern California.
The presence of federal vehicles and personnel just outside the vast stadium parking lot on a Thursday caused immediate concern, particularly coming hours before a scheduled Dodgers game against the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles has been on edge following recent, widespread immigration raids and President Donald Trump’s directives on increased enforcement.
Adding to the confusion, the official narratives from the Dodgers and federal authorities sharply contradicted each other.
What the Dodgers Stated
According to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrived at Dodger Stadium that morning and requested permission to access the team’s parking lots. The Dodgers stated they denied the agents entry to the grounds.
The team issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) confirming the request and denial:
> “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.”
>
> — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2025
The incident occurred ahead of a planned celebrity softball game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular home game at 7:10 p.m.
Federal Agencies Offer Different Explanations
Federal agencies presented varying explanations that directly disputed the Dodgers’ account.
An official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told CNN that CBP vehicles were briefly in a parking lot on Dodger Stadium grounds, but this was unrelated to any operation or enforcement. The official claimed one vehicle had a malfunction, causing them to stay longer than intended. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed this, stating, “This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”
Meanwhile, the official ICE account on X went further, directly calling the Dodgers’ statement “false.” “We were never there,” the ICE tweet asserted.
These federal statements contradict both the Dodgers’ claim that ICE requested entry and each other, as ICE claimed complete absence while DHS/CBP admitted to a brief presence attributed to a car issue. An anonymous Los Angeles Police Department source offered another possibility, suggesting federal agents may have gathered near the stadium for a briefing before leaving.
Witness Accounts Link Incident to Earlier Raid
Despite official denials of an operation or contact with the Dodgers, accounts from community members and activists present a different picture, suggesting a direct link between the federal agents near Dodger Stadium and earlier immigration enforcement activity.
Activists with the Echo Park Rapid Response group reported following vehicles they believed to be carrying federal agents directly from a Home Depot in Hollywood to the area just outside Dodger Stadium. Community members had signaled a significant federal presence at the Home Depot earlier that morning, where activists saw two individuals being detained.
Witnesses reported seeing unmarked vans and SUVs near the stadium gates over a period of nearly four hours. Chelsea Kirk, an activist, posted photos around 8:15 a.m. showing agents staged near Gate A, later following agents to Gate E. Emily Phillips, another activist, shared photos linking vehicles seen at both the Home Depot raid and Dodger Stadium via their license plates.
Crucially, Phillips reported that a CBP officer at the Dodger Stadium location told her they were there to process detainees arrested in the Home Depot raid. According to her account, the officer stated, “We bring the detainees here to process them and conduct our investigation without public interference… We can’t do it in the Home Depot parking lot because the public makes it dangerous.” Aerial footage later showed the vehicles being escorted out of the area just before noon.
These witness claims, corroborated by photographic evidence of linked vehicles and direct quotes from an agent, directly contradict the official federal explanation that the presence was brief, unrelated to enforcement, and due to a car issue, or that ICE was not present at all.
The Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement in LA
Regardless of the specific circumstances, the sight of federal agents near Dodger Stadium highlights the pervasive climate of fear and uncertainty gripping Los Angeles, a city home to over 1.35 million immigrants.
Recent days have seen widespread immigration raids in the LA area, including operations at a Home Depot and an apparel warehouse that sparked protests. These enforcement actions, sometimes carried out by plainclothes agents, have led to family separations and instilled fear within communities.
The tension has affected daily life, with reports of businesses closing early, customers staying home, and some families foregoing public events or changing routines due to fear of encountering agents. Rumors about where ICE operations might occur are rampant across the country, adding to the anxiety, especially with major events like the FIFA Club World Cup drawing crowds.
The Dodgers organization had reportedly been planning an announcement about initiatives to support immigrant communities affected by the raids but postponed it following Thursday’s events, citing a need to “firm up some more details.”
The incident near Dodger Stadium, marked by conflicting official statements and compelling witness accounts linking it to ongoing enforcement, underscores the complex and often disputed reality of immigration operations in cities like Los Angeles. Protests continued outside the stadium before the game, reflecting the community’s ongoing concerns and opposition to the federal crackdown.
