LOS ANGELES — A significant number of individuals gathered in Southern California on Sunday to voice their opposition to mass deportations proposed by President Donald Trump. The demonstrations were particularly notable in downtown Los Angeles, where protesters obstructed a major freeway for several hours.
The gathering began early in the day at Olvera Street, a historic site reflecting the area’s Spanish and Mexican heritage. From there, participants marched towards City Hall, advocating for immigration reform and holding signs with powerful messages such as “Nobody is illegal.”
As the afternoon progressed, the protesters successfully blocked all lanes of the U.S. 101 freeway, leading to extensive traffic congestion in both directions, as well as on surrounding streets. Many participants took a seat in the roadway, while a perimeter of California Highway Patrol officers monitored the situation. According to CHP Lt. Matt Gutierrez, it took over five hours for the freeway to reopen to traffic later in the evening.
Officials from both the CHP and the Los Angeles Police Department reported that there were no arrests made during the demonstrations.
In the eastern part of the region, hundreds more took part in a protest in Riverside. Many passing drivers responded by honking their horns and cheering in support of the protesters, who were seen waving flags at a local intersection, as reported by the Southern California News Group.
Meanwhile, in San Diego, another large gathering took place near the convention center, demonstrating a strong local sentiment against the planned deportations.
Further east in Texas, downtown Dallas witnessed a dual protest against recent arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to police estimates, around 1,600 individuals came together to express their concerns during the two events.
Protesters in Dallas carried both Mexican and American flags, and speakers at the rallies voiced their frustration regarding the inflammatory rhetoric coming from Trump and his administration, particularly in relation to heightened deportation efforts. A notable sign among the crowd proclaimed, “Immigrants Make America Great,” emphasizing the significant contributions of immigrants to the nation.
