The Dodgers were briefly at the center of Southern California’s opposition to federal immigration policy when the team asked federal agents to leave the stadium grounds Thursday after they amassed at a parking lot near one of the gates.
Dozens of federal agents with their faces covered arrived at a lot near the stadium’s Gate E entrance in SUVs and cargo vans. A group of protesters carrying signs against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived shortly afterward, and the agents eventually left.
Roberts claimed his players haven’t extensively discussed the situation in the clubhouse, but some Dodgers have been paying attention. Kike Hernandez, a Puerto Rico native, sharply criticized the raids on social media last weekend. Baseball Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers’ lead Spanish-language broadcaster from 1959 until his retirement in 2022, also spoke up against the federal actions.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass praised the Dodgers in the team’s news release.
“I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles,” she said. “These last weeks have sent shockwaves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy. 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.”
Fans and lawmakers have called upon the Dodgers for several days to make an unequivocal statement of opposition to the raids, given their vast Latino fan base and heavy influence in the region. Other teams in the region have expressed their solidarity with the immigrant community, including Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC.
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents the Los Angeles area, went on social media earlier Friday to ask the Dodgers to speak up.
“In a city where 36% of the residents are immigrants and nearly 40% of the team’s fan base is Latino, saying nothing is not just disappointing — it’s a betrayal and an insult,” Gomez wrote. “Silence is not an option. It’s a choice.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!