Knott’s Berry Farm—the Buena Park theme park known for fried chicken, boysenberry festivals, and wild roller coasters—is now at the center of a jaw-dropping online controversy that has social media spinning. A Reddit thread posted this week claims that the historic theme park is working directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and that agents will soon be making appearances inside the park.
Related: Guests Scared of Universal Studios Vacation After ICE Raids
The original post, which appeared in a Southern California-centric Reddit community, carried a blunt message:
“Knott’s Berry Farm management is working with I.C.E. and will be allowing I.C.E. onto the property and into the parks in the coming days and weeks. Be careful. Be cautious.”
The comment section quickly lit up with reactions, but the original poster doubled down, issuing an even more ominous warning in a reply that named names:
“It’s scary times and Knott’s management are scary people who do scary things because of their politics. Be CAREFUL. If you see something at the park and you feel uncomfortable LEAVE. Knott’s security is very much involved. The head of security Michael Bagosian is a dick and thinks all of what’s going on is funny.”
The user added that Knott’s has a “ridiculously conservative” stance as a company and implied that its alleged cooperation with ICE is politically motivated.
“They have an entire Independence Hall replica across the street… Everything they do is political. Take my warning to be cautious how you want. Just know that you were told.”
Where There’s Smoke…
While the park has not issued any public statement regarding ICE, the timing of this viral thread has stirred deeper fears, especially among immigrant families who may already feel targeted by recent headlines across California.
It comes in the same week that rumors swirled around a possible ICE presence near Disneyland, with social media users and on-the-ground observers alleging they saw agents around the perimeter of the resort. Though Disneyland has not confirmed those sightings, it hasn’t denied them either—and in the absence of information, speculation continues to grow.
Even worse, this all plays out against a backdrop of increasing federal action. Protests have erupted in Los Angeles in recent days in response to ICE raids in Latino neighborhoods and garment district warehouses. The federal government responded not with statements, but with boots: over 700 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Southern California by order of President Trump, citing the need to protect federal property and enforce immigration laws.
Governor Gavin Newsom, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, and other state officials have loudly condemned the move as a federal overreach designed to stoke fear in California’s immigrant communities. They’re calling it “unconstitutional,” “dangerous,” and “an act of political warfare.”
A Theme Park Isn’t Just a Theme Park Anymore
Theme parks like Knott’s and Disneyland are typically viewed as escapist playgrounds—neutral ground where families can relax without the stress of daily politics. But that illusion is crumbling fast, especially in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles, where even the happiest places on Earth may no longer be immune to real-world tension.
Unlike federal facilities, private businesses like Knott’s have the right to deny entry to federal immigration agents unless they have a judicial warrant. The key detail missing in all the Reddit chatter? Whether Knott’s has officially agreed to allow ICE in—or if they’re simply not planning to stop them.
And if there is a formal partnership or agreement between Knott’s security and ICE, that would open the park up to massive backlash, both from the general public and from civil liberties groups, especially given how many immigrant families make up the park’s loyal guest base.
Adding fuel to the fire is the Reddit user’s pointed call-out of Knott’s head of security by name. Whether it’s accurate or not, it’s certainly unusual for an anonymous whistleblower to be this specific—something that’s making even the most skeptical readers raise an eyebrow.
Still Just a Rumor… But a Dangerous One
At the moment, none of this has been confirmed. There’s no official record of an ICE operation scheduled at Knott’s, and no evidence (yet) of actual immigration enforcement happening on the property. But the fact that it’s plausible is what makes this rumor so sticky—and potentially damaging.
This isn’t the first time social media has amplified unverified claims around ICE activity at major attractions. But in the current political climate, where fear is as widespread as the heat in a SoCal summer, even rumors have the power to shift public behavior. Families may cancel trips. Parkgoers may feel unsafe. A single online post can ripple through entire communities.
Whether Knott’s comes forward with a denial—or chooses to remain silent—could shape how guests view the park moving forward.
For now, nothing is proven. But for many, especially those in undocumented or mixed-status families, a Reddit warning is more than enough. Because the truth is, even the idea of ICE wandering around a theme park filled with children and churros is enough to turn a fun family day into a nightmare.
We’ll keep watching. And we hope Knott’s will too.
Guess the people will be shutting this park down.