Fact Check: Dodgers Face Backlash for Silence on Immigrant Community Amid Federal Raids
What We Know
The Los Angeles Dodgers recently faced criticism for their perceived silence regarding federal immigration raids occurring in Los Angeles. On June 19, 2025, federal immigration officials attempted to gain access to Dodger Stadium, which the Dodgers organization denied. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later clarified that the presence of federal agents was unrelated to any enforcement actions at the stadium, stating that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles were present only briefly and not in connection with the Dodgers (source-1, source-5).
Prior to this incident, the Dodgers had not publicly commented on the immigration raids that began on June 6, which had sparked protests and calls for action from the community. Local media reported that the Dodgers were expected to announce plans to assist immigrant communities affected by these raids, but this announcement was postponed due to the events of that day (source-3, source-2).
The backlash included protests outside the stadium, where fans expressed frustration over the team's lack of a statement regarding the raids. Many felt that the Dodgers, as a prominent Los Angeles institution, should have taken a stand in support of the immigrant community (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that the Dodgers faced backlash for their silence on the immigrant community amid federal raids is supported by various reports. The organization did delay a planned announcement regarding assistance for immigrant communities, which was interpreted as a response to the federal agents' presence at the stadium (source-3).
Critics, including fans and community members, expressed their disappointment over the Dodgers' lack of public engagement on the issue, especially given the historical context of the team's relationship with the Latino community in Los Angeles (source-2). Notably, only one player, Kiké Hernández, publicly voiced support for the affected communities, which further highlighted the team's silence on the matter (source-2).
However, the Dodgers did take action by denying access to federal agents, which could be seen as a supportive gesture towards the immigrant community. The conflicting statements from ICE and the DHS regarding the agents' presence at the stadium also complicate the narrative, as ICE claimed they were never there, while the Dodgers maintained they denied access (source-1, source-5).
Conclusion
The claim that the Dodgers faced backlash for their silence on the immigrant community amid federal raids is Partially True. While it is accurate that the team received criticism for not publicly addressing the immigration raids and delaying their announcement of support for immigrant communities, they did take a significant action by denying federal agents access to their stadium. This duality illustrates a complex situation where the team's silence was met with community backlash, yet they also demonstrated a level of support through their actions.
Sources
- Dodgers say they denied federal immigration officials ...
- Dodger Stadium live updates: Fans support LA amidst ICE raids - USA TODAY
- Dodgers delay announcement of plans to assist immigrant communities
- Dodgers block ICE agents from entering stadium in Los ... - NBC News
- Dodgers delay immigration announcement after federal agents seen ...
