Armed CBP agents attempt entry at Dodger Stadium, spark protest

Armed CBP agents attempted to enter Dodger Stadium on June 19, triggering confusion and protests amid ongoing immigration enforcement actions across Southern California.

According to FOX11 and the Los Angeles Times, at least four vehicles believed to belong to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were spotted near Gate E of Dodger Stadium around 10 a.m. on June 19. Five men wearing bulletproof vests, masks, and carrying handguns exited the vehicles. However, they remained outside the stadium’s parking area and did not immediately attempt to enter.

Word of the incident spread quickly. By 11:30 a.m., approximately 50 protesters had gathered outside Gate E to oppose any possible immigration enforcement actions on stadium grounds. The armed individuals returned to their vehicles and left the area shortly afterward.

At 12:12 p.m., the Los Angeles Dodgers issued an official statement via X (formerly Twitter). The team said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had requested access to the parking lot that morning but were denied entry. The statement also confirmed that the evening’s game against the San Diego Padres would proceed as scheduled.

Later in the day, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin clarified that the personnel seen at the stadium were not ICE but from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She told FOX11 that CBP vehicles had been present only briefly and that the incident was unrelated to the Dodgers or any enforcement operation. DHS did not provide a reason for the CBP agents’ presence near the stadium.

ICE disputed the Dodgers’ statement in a post at 1:39 p.m., calling it “false” and asserting that ICE personnel were not at the stadium.

Separately, ICE agents conducted multiple enforcement actions across Los Angeles County on the same day. Two Home Depot stores—one in Hollywood (5600 Sunset Blvd) and another in San Fernando (12960 Foothill Blvd)—were raided, resulting in the arrest of undocumented individuals. However, ICE did not disclose the number of people detained.

In Glendale, ICE agents also arrested one undocumented person at Glendale Classic Car Wash on East Colorado Street.

The previous day, on June 18, ICE detained at least six undocumented individuals during an early morning sweep at a Pasadena bus stop.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM   [kim.kyeongjun@koreadaily.com]