America First Legal Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Dodgers Over Diversity Programs

America First Legal, a conservative legal group co-founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Los Angeles Dodgers, accusing the team of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through its workplace diversity efforts.

The complaint was submitted on June 30, 2025, to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It alleges that the Dodgers, along with their ownership group Guggenheim Partners, LLC, have implemented hiring and employment policies that prioritize race, gender, and identity in ways that unlawfully disadvantage other applicants. Guggenheim Partners is named in the complaint in part because its CEO, Mark Walter, is also the controlling owner of the Dodgers. America First Legal claims these practices, which fall under the team's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, amount to intentional discrimination.

The filing specifically references the Dodgers' official DEI statements and internal employment groups. According to the complaint, the Dodgers' DEI mission statement outlines “quantifiable ways with identifiable goals to achieve ‘success,’ which appears to entail engaging in unlawful discriminatory hiring, training, and recruitment.” The group also targets the team’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs), including the Black Action Network, SOMOS LA, Asian Professionals, and the Women’s Opportunity Network, which AFL argues offer material benefits to employees based on protected characteristics.

Although not included in the legal filing itself, America First Legal referenced a recent immigration-related incident involving the team in its public announcement. On June 19, Department of Homeland Security vehicles were turned away from Dodger Stadium. Federal officials later stated the visit was unrelated to enforcement and had no connection to the team. The following day, the Dodgers pledged one million dollars to support local families affected by immigration raids in Los Angeles.

The complaint also accuses Guggenheim Partners of engaging in similar employment practices. AFL cites the firm’s public DEI policies, including its commitment to building a “diverse pipeline,” promoting identity-based employee networks, and expanding vendor partnerships with businesses owned by women, LGBTQ people, and racial minorities. The complaint highlights Guggenheim’s Business Development Resource Groups (BDRGs), such as the Women’s Innovation and Inclusion Network and the Multicultural Employee Business Network, which AFL claims offer professional development opportunities tied to race or gender.

America First Legal has filed similar complaints against major corporations, including IBM and Johnson & Johnson, as well as universities, as part of a broader effort to challenge the legality of DEI programs in hiring and contracting.

The EEOC has not yet indicated whether it will pursue an investigation.