LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a dramatic show of resistance against mass deportations planned by President Donald Trump, thousands of protesters took to the streets across multiple U.S. cities on Sunday. The demonstrations, which caused significant disruptions, highlighted the growing outrage over the administration’s immigration policies.
In Los Angeles, protesters gathered at Olvera Street, a historic district from the era of Spanish and Mexican rule, before marching to City Hall. Carrying banners with slogans like “Nobody is illegal,” demonstrators called for comprehensive immigration reform.
By the afternoon, the protests escalated as marchers shut down all lanes of the U.S. 101 freeway, bringing traffic to a standstill for hours. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers monitored the situation as demonstrators sat in the roadway. The freeway was not fully reopened for more than five hours, according to CHP Lt. Matt Gutierrez.
Despite the scale of the protests, authorities, including the Los Angeles Police Department and CHP, reported no arrests.
Similar protests erupted in other parts of Southern California. In Riverside, hundreds of demonstrators waved flags at intersections while passing motorists honked in support, according to the Southern California News Group. Meanwhile, in San Diego, hundreds gathered near the city’s convention center to voice their opposition to the crackdown.
The demonstrations were not limited to California. In Texas, protests erupted in downtown Dallas, where approximately 1,600 people gathered in two separate rallies against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, according to local police.
Throughout the protests, marchers carried both American and Mexican flags, emphasizing their message that immigrants are a vital part of the nation. Signs reading “Immigrants Make America Great” reflected their determination to fight against policies they view as unjust.
As tensions rise over immigration enforcement, these large-scale protests signal a deepening divide on the issue, with activists vowing to continue their resistance.
