MLS defends political message ban in stadiums amid immigration raids

Don Garber’s stance is one more addition to the list of things that defy logic in the United States. The crackdown on freedom of expression around political issues—especially immigration—is now spilling into the stands at Major League Soccer matches.

In a climate where tensions around U.S. immigration policy grow daily, it’s unrealistic to expect sports to remain untouched. Fans are using one of their most powerful tools—tifos—to voice frustration, particularly aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Public spaces across the country have become flashpoints, and stadiums are no exception. That’s why, at the start of June, some fans chose to stop attending matches altogether. Many even skipped major events like the Gold Cup and the Club World Cup due to safety concerns. But their absence didn’t mean silence. They found ways to make their voices heard from afar.

These recent protests have caught the attention of Commissioner Don Garber, who has responded with a heavy hand in an effort to contain the situation before it spirals further.Citing the league’s commitment to fan safety—at all costs and under any necessary restrictions—Garber has used that mandate as justification for strict control over political expression.

Fans face bans for political messages

In essence, the MLS commissioner has defended the league’s policy that bans fan groups from displaying political signs in stadiums. However, he also made clear that teams themselves can make political statements—through official channels like press conferences—which only deepens the inconsistency of the league’s position.

“We want to make sure we have displays that aren’t going to incite anyone,” Garber said Wednesday at a press conference before the MLS All-Star Game.“The best way to do that is with the policy we have: prohibiting political signage or anything related to legislative acts inside our stadiums.”

Since May, fans of Nashville SC have suspended their usual game-day activities to protest immigration raids. They described their silence to local outlet SixOneFive Soccer as a strategy to become visible by choosing absence, while The Athletic reported that fans increasingly feel “hunted”—in every sense of the word.

MLS’s position has already drawn criticism from supporter groups across the country. Many remain undeterred and are actively looking for new ways to bring national attention to their cause.

Even El Tráfico—the marquee rivalry between LAFC and LA Galaxy—was pulled into the political current. At a recent match, a massive display read: “Los Angeles, united, will never be defeated.”

The chant, often used in protest movements, was in direct response to recent ICE raids in the L.A. area, which resulted in over 2,700 arrests—many involving individuals with no criminal record.

Tellingly, the political divide was reflected in how the two clubs responded. LAFC issued a public statement of solidarity with immigrant communities, becoming the only MLS team to do so. The Galaxy, on the other hand, banned anti-ICE banners at games—prompting a section of their supporters to boycott the derby.

Similar actions have emerged in other cities, including Chicago and Austin—host of this year’s All-Star Game—as well as in smaller markets around the league.

Still, MLS leadership holds firm: the league insists its goal is to maintain “neutrality” inside stadiums. Yet this debate—at the intersection of politics, civil rights, and sport—continues to intensify. And when the stands mirror a reality that many would rather ignore, “neutrality” becomes anything but.

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