On Aug. 23, I attended a Sea Dogs game in Portland with my family. I’m no stranger to baseball, the great American pastime, as both of my children have participated in Portland Little League since they were age 4. I’ve attended countless Sea Dogs games, where it is customary to play the national anthem before the game. The Sea Dogs often feature select groups, including veterans and the LGBTQ+ community. America’s pastime — by all accounts — includes all Americans.

That’s why I was surprised, as I went to stand for the anthem, that something was different: the Sea Dogs had permitted Border Protection, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, to present the colors.

Portland has a long history of welcoming immigrants and asylum seekers, featuring 59 languages in our public schools. Under the Trump administration, many individuals fear unconstitutional and violent capture by masked members of Homeland “Security,” tearing apart families and leaving communities shattered. To be clear: the Department of Homeland Security, including Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is not a part of the U.S. armed services; under President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security is a militant branch of the U.S. government.

We must not normalize anti-immigrant sentiments or confuse groups like ICE or Border Patrol with veterans and service members. When we permit any group that terrorizes members of our community to participate in family-friendly events, we encourage propaganda targeting our most vulnerable Mainers. The Sea Dogs can do better.

Yana Davis
Portland