Federal immigration brokers in a line of unmarked white vans and SUVs tried to enter the parking numerous Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning, sparking a wave of hypothesis on-line about potential immigration enforcement on the ballpark.
However, in accordance with Dodgers officers, the brokers had been denied entry to the grounds.
In pictures posted on social media Thursday, a procession of autos appeared to aim to enter Dodger Stadium by the ballpark’s important Sundown Gate off Vin Scully Avenue round 8 a.m. Nonetheless, they had been prevented from passing by a safety checkpoint resulting in the parking zone.
The caravan then relocated to the stadium’s Downtown Gate close to the 110 Freeway. Dozens of autos gathered outdoors a closed parking zone fence, in accordance with witnesses, earlier than many started dispersing.
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Later within the morning, a number of dozen protesters gathered close to what remained of the brokers, who stood round three unmarked SUVs nearer to the stadium’s entry gates however nonetheless outdoors the stadium parking zone.
5 brokers — a number of overlaying their faces with gaiters and armed with pistols — stood between the autos. They didn’t put on figuring out gadgets or badges. When requested by a Occasions reporter which company they had been with, they stated “DHS” and declined to remark additional.
Finally, police got here to the scene and the brokers drove away. The group of a number of dozen dispersed by the afternoon.
In accordance to an announcement by the staff, the brokers had been denied entry to the Dodger Stadium grounds once they tried to enter the parking tons.
“This morning, ICE brokers got here to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to entry the parking tons. They had been denied entry to the grounds by the group. Tonight’s sport might be performed as scheduled,” the assertion stated.
However each the Division of Homeland Safety and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took to social media to deal with Thursday’s occasions.
Responding to the staff’s submit on social media, ICE posted on X: “False. We had been by no means there.”
The Division of Homeland Safety, in the meantime, stated it was Customs and Border Safety brokers who had been on the stadium, however not for an operation.
“This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP autos had been within the stadium parking zone very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,” the company stated.
A Los Angeles Police Division supply, who requested anonymity in an effort to talk about inside issues, stated federal brokers had gathered close to the stadium to conduct a briefing however had left by the point photos of the gathering started circulating on social media.
Nonetheless, at the very least a few of the autos outdoors Dodger Stadium had been believed to have been concerned in an immigration raid at a Residence Depot in Hollywood earlier within the morning, the place a number of folks had been seen being arrested.
Emily Phillips, an Echo Park Fast Response neighborhood member, shared pictures with The Occasions of two autos that had been at each the Hollywood Residence Depot and Dodger Stadium on Thursday, as recognized by their license plates.
Phillips additionally stated a CBP officer at Dodger Stadium instructed her the brokers had been there to course of the folks that they had arrested.
“We convey the detainees right here to course of them and conduct our investigation with out public interference,” the agent stated, in accordance with Phillips, who wrote down his quote. “We will’t do it within the Residence Depot parking zone as a result of the general public makes it harmful.”
Homeland Safety didn’t instantly reply to The Occasions’ request for remark concerning the brokers’ actions at Dodger Stadium.
Amongst these protesting outdoors the stadium had been members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA.
“The truth that these raids proceed is what we Angelenos must be very involved about,” stated CHIRLA member Jorge-Mario Cabrera, who was involved with fellow members monitoring exercise on the stadium Thursday. “Dodger Stadium is a spot the place Angeleno households come and have enjoyable.”
The Dodgers have been underneath strain because the raids started this month to make an announcement in assist of immigrants. The staff additionally got here underneath hearth from some followers after singer and social media character Nezza sang a Spanish model of the nationwide anthem at Dodger Stadium in an act of protest in opposition to the immigration raids, regardless of being requested by a staff worker to sing in English.
On Wednesday, the staff stated it supposed to announce plans on Thursday to help the immigrant communities just lately affected in Los Angeles.
However on Thursday, Dodgers President Stan Kasten stated that announcement was being postponed “due to the occasions earlier right this moment.”
“We proceed to work with teams that had been concerned with our applications,” Kasten stated. “However we’re going to should delay right this moment’s announcement whereas we agency up some extra particulars. We’ll get again to you quickly with the timing.”
A small group of protesters positioned themselves outdoors of the primary gate at Dodgers Stadium on Thursday night time, the place the Los Angeles was enjoying San Diego.
Safety simply ushered the group, beforehand dozens in dimension, out of the best way for site visitors coming towards the stadium. Some held indicators that stated “ICE out of L.A.” within the form of the Dodgers insignia, and others jabbed at President Trump’s character and immigration enforcement practices.
“If a felon might be president, then an immigrant generally is a citizen,” an indication stated.
At nearly 10 p.m., one man was left demonstrating after the small crowd of protesters broke off one after the other. The person, who requested to not be recognized out of concern that he’d be focused by immigration officers, held an upside-down American flag, which he stated signified the “chaos” of the present administration.
“That is an immigrant nation,” the person stated. “He’s creating a lot hate in opposition to our communities of immigrants… It’s not honest.”
Occasions workers writers Jack Flemming, Libor Jany, Andrew Campa, Invoice Shaikin and Christopher Buchanan contributed to this report.
