The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Friday a $1 million commitment to support immigrant families affected by recent federal immigration raids in Southern California.
“What’s happening in Los Angeles has reverberated among thousands upon thousands of people, and we have heard the calls for us to take a leading role on behalf of those affected. We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles,” Stan Kasten, president and CEO of the Dodgers, said in a statement emailed to Newsweek on Saturday afternoon.
The donation comes following an announcement made on X, formerly Twitter, by the team earlier this week, saying they would not let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents into their stadium parking lot when they tried to enter.
However, an ICE spokesperson previously told Newsweek in an emailed statement that “ICE was never at Dodgers stadium, and thus never tried to gain access.”
Why It Matters
The pledge marked the Dodgers’ first public response to demands from fans, community leaders, and immigrant-rights advocacy groups who called on the franchise to take action and speak out against the ongoing ICE raids in the greater Los Angeles area.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have expanded their operations in Los Angeles and across the country as President Donald Trump seeks to deliver on his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in United States history.
ICE conducted raids in Los Angeles, which is home to the largest undocumented immigrant population in the U.S., and faced large protests in the city that largely remained peaceful with some instances of violence that prompted Trump to order the deployment of 4,000 members of California’s National Guard and 700 U.S. Marines to assist in stopping violence, even as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass insisted local law enforcement had the matter under control.
The raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, but critics have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants by federal authorities as well as the tactics used by immigration agents during the raids.
The Dodgers also received backlash in March after accepting Trump’s invitation to visit the White House after they won the 2024 World Series championship.
What To Know
In a statement, the team said it had committed “$1 million toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region,” and would partner with the City of Los Angeles on the initiative.
The team also indicated that more community-driven efforts would be announced soon and invited “other organizations to follow suit.”
The Dodgers announced their pledge a day after denying federal agents access to their stadium parking lot where ICE agents reportedly assembled before being met by protesters, a post from the team said on X.
It remains unclear what ICE’s intended operation entailed or whether anyone in the area had been arrested. The parking lot is jointly owned by the Dodgers’ ownership group and the team’s former owner, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) previously told Newsweek that the department received a call from the Dodgers at 10:28 a.m. local time to address a crowd of protesters gathering in the parking lot.
“LAPD officers arrived and assisted with keeping the peace,” the spokesperson said.
Bass publicly praised the Dodgers for their action, saying in the joint statement released by the team, “I want to thank the Dodgers for leading with this action to support the immigrant community of Los Angeles. These last weeks have sent shockwaves of fear rippling through every neighborhood and have had a direct impact on our economy.”
She concluded: “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.”
This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2025
What People Are Saying
Los Angeles Dodgers said in a statement: “The Dodgers and the City of Los Angeles have a proven ability to get financial resources to those in critical need, most recently seen in their efforts to aid victims of the January wildfires. Through our support of the city’s efforts, the Dodgers will encourage those organizations in a similar position to use their resources to directly support the families and workers who have suffered economic hardship.”
Representative Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat, said in a post on Facebook on Friday: “Let’s be clear: ICE and other federal agents conducted raids in Hollywood, arresting people and transporting them to Dodger Stadium property to transfer them into other vehicles. DHS now claims the agents at Dodger Stadium weren’t involved in ICE operations—but we know that’s a lie. Same vans, same agents, same story. What they didn’t count on was our community showing up and reporting the truth. And we’re not backing down.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, per the Associated Press: “I think it’s great. I’m sure the money is going to be allocated in the right way. I’m happy to hear that the Dodgers have done that, and it’s certainly the right thing to do.”
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, said during an appearance on Fox News this week: “When they double down, we triple down. So, the men and women of ICE are going to keep standing up, they’re going to keep doing the job. They’re working for the greatest president in my lifetime…His success on the border…We’ve got the most secure border in the history of the nation today. Criminal threats, illegal alien criminal threats, arrested and deported, are at a record high, much higher than Joe Biden.”
What Happens Next?
The Dodgers stated that further details about community partnerships and additional initiatives supporting immigrant youth and families will be announced in the coming days.
The team said it will involve “local community and labor organizations, including the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and others who are directly supporting our communities to aid youth and families with food insecurity, basic essentials and mental health services.”
The post LA Dodgers Defy Trump With $1 Million for Families Hit by ICE Raids appeared first on Newsweek.
