The Los Angeles Dodgers have committed $1 million in direct financial aid to support immigrant families following a firestorm of backlash over a controversial ICE-related incident near their stadium.
The move came after days of protests and criticism from immigrant rights groups, fans, and city leaders. They are all demanding accountability after federal agents were spotted outside Dodger Stadium just hours before a home game.
The outrage peaked after images and eyewitness reports emerged of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles near the stadium’s Gates A and E. Activists claim they tracked those vehicles from an early morning raid at a Home Depot in Hollywood to the stadium grounds. The Los Angeles Dodgers said ICE agents requested access to the team’s parking lot, which the organization denied. ICE flatly dismissed this claim on social media.
The Dodgers’ million-dollar pledge, announced Friday, is the organization’s first public response.
In partnership with the City of Los Angeles, the funds will provide immediate relief to families impacted by immigration enforcement actions across Southern California. Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten said: “We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles.”
What Happened Outside Dodger Stadium?
The conflicting accounts of what happened at Dodger Stadium on June 19 have stirred confusion and concern across the city. According to CNN, federal agents were first seen at a Home Depot in Hollywood detaining two people. Community activists say they followed unmarked vans from that location to Dodger Stadium, where agents appeared to stage near the entrance gates.
Photos posted by activist Chelsea Kirk show agents at Gate A around 8:15 a.m. and later at Gate E. Protesters gathered outside the stadium, chanting anti-ICE slogans ahead of the evening game against the Padres.
Aerial footage from local news affiliates confirmed CBP’s presence at the site for nearly four hours.
BREAKING: ICE Officials appear to have been escorted from the Dodger Stadium grounds by the LAPD after trying to set up a staging ground there earlier in the day.
It appears that the only Ice welcomed at Dodger Stadium is Ice Cube pic.twitter.com/fyYYSpZaDX
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 19, 2025
While the Dodgers said ICE tried to gain entry to their parking area and were denied, ICE’s official account responded sharply on X (formerly Twitter): “False. We were never there.” A spokesperson from CBP later said that their vehicles were being parked there purely because of mechanical trouble and had nothing to do with any operation related to immigration enforcement.
This explanation has only upset people. Especially because Los Angeles, a city with over 1.35 million immigrants, has already been dealing with a lot of ICE raids happening all over in June.
A Pledge Amid Pressure and Protests Against ICE
The Dodgers’ silence in the days following the incident drew significant criticism from advocacy organizations and even their fan base. A coalition of Latino advocacy groups called on professional sports teams in Los Angeles to take a stand. Latin American pop artist Nezza defied a reported request by the Dodgers and performed the national anthem in Spanish before a recent game in solidarity with immigrant communities.
Following the $1 million pledge, the team acknowledged Nezza’s act with goodwill. “No hard feelings,” the organization stated. The Dodgers added the team would “be happy to have her back.”
ICE agents attempted to enter Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles ahead of the game, but were denied entry. pic.twitter.com/pU4J1tfTCb
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 19, 2025
Mayor Karen Bass publicly applauded the Dodgers’ financial commitment: “I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles. (…) My message to all Angelenos is clear: We will stick together during this time and we will not turn our backs on one another — that’s what makes this the greatest city in the world.”
The team also hinted that this is the first step. More initiatives, in partnership with community and labor groups, are to follow.
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