Customs and Border Patrol agents blocked from entering LA Dodgers parking lot

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents were blocked Thursday by the Los Angeles Dodgers from entering their stadium grounds.

The agents were briefly in the stadium's parking lot for a matter "unrelated to any operation or enforcement," the Department of Homeland Security told the Los Angeles Times. "This had nothing to do with the Dodgers."

The Dodgers said in a statement that, at some point, the CBP agents "requested permission to access the parking lots" of the stadium. "They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization," the team said.

ICE agents recently rounding up illegal migrants in Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in the city and elsewhere in the U.S. Opposition to such efforts – and the deployment of Marines and National Guard members as backup, has resulted in protests, some of violent and causing property damage. 

An unnamed Los Angeles Police Department source told the Times that the agents had gathered near the stadium to conduct a briefing, but were gone by the time pictures of them appeared on social media.

The Dodgers were originally going to announce a statement on Thursday about the federal immigration raids in the city, as well as a plan to assist immigrant communities.

However, following the CBP agents' presence in the stadium's parking lot, Dodgers President Stan Kasten said, “Because of the events earlier today, we continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs. But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details. We’ll get back to you soon with the timing.”