League of Legends pro Nikhil “Dhokla” Bhat announced his return to the LCS with an unexpected political statement. In a message shared before his first game back in the league, the NRG top laner ended with an explicit callout: “Final note, Fuck ICE.”
The full message opened with a casual tone. “Hola my amigos, Dhokla here,” he wrote. “We’re about to play for the first time in LCS. LCS is back. LTA, none of that… Happy to get an opportunity to play again.”
Then came the closing line targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dhokla has been a recurring figure in North American League of Legends esports for multiple seasons. He’s known for bouncing between LCS rosters and academy teams while maintaining a confident public persona that often generates buzz.
His comment about “LCS is back” referenced recent branding discussions around North America’s top League circuit. Riot Games has gone through several format and naming changes for the region, and Dhokla’s message celebrated the return of the LCS label over alternative branding concepts.
Immigration hits close to home
The immigration statement carries particular weight in esports. The LCS features numerous international players competing on work visas, and roster moves frequently get complicated by visa approvals and processing times.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement handles immigration enforcement at the federal level in the United States. Public figures across sports and entertainment have increasingly taken stances on the agency’s policies and practices.
