In another indication of the raids occurring throughout Southern California, Department of Homeland Security vans including masked agents were parked outside Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning.
It’s unknown if anyone in the neighborhood was arrested or what operation the federal officers were conducting. Social media was instantly flooded with pictures of the government cars, which stoked rumors about their operations. When a Times reporter questioned the agents why they were at the stadium, they refused to answer.
The cars seemed to be staging close to the stadium’s downtown parking lot entrance, which was deserted Thursday morning but for a few members of the local press.
When agents tried to access the parking areas at Dodger Stadium, they were turned away, according to several persons with knowledge of the matter who were not permitted to talk publicly.
The Dodgers did not request that the Los Angeles Police Department remove federal officers from the stadium grounds, according to a source with the department. According to the source, federal agents had assembled close to the stadium for a briefing, but they had already departed when pictures of the event started making the rounds on social media.
However, the source, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss internal issues, said that once a number of demonstrators arrived at the scene, the Dodgers did call for police to step in.
The Dodgers believe the parking lot to be their property, even though they do not own it. The Dodgers’ ownership group and the team’s previous owner, millionaire Frank McCourt, share ownership of the parking lot.
Since the raids started earlier this month, the Dodgers have been under pressure to issue an immigration-supporting statement. The team stated on Wednesday that it would make plans to help the recently impacted immigrant populations in Los Angeles public on Thursday.
Social media star and singerDespite being urged to sing in English by a team member, Nezza protested the immigration raids by performing a Spanish rendition of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium.
This report was written by Libor Jany, a staff writer.
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