Thousands of protesters rallied in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday against President Trump's crackdown on immigration and aggressive deportation policies. Draped in Mexican and Salvadoran flags, demonstrators gathered near City Hall shortly before noon, blocking traffic at Spring and Temple streets. By 1 p.m., the crowd swelled to several thousand, with signs reading, 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you,' referring to agricultural workers, and 'I drink my horchata warm because f... I.C.E,' a jab at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Nailah Esparza, 18, attending her first protest, held a sign in Spanish stating, 'No more I.C.E. raids, no more fear, we want justice and a better world.' Another protester, identified as Rey, echoed sentiments of frustration over Trump’s return to power, stating, 'We thought we were done with his administration.'
The protest remained mostly peaceful until a driver began performing donuts at the intersection. Police intervened as protesters moved onto the nearby 101 Freeway, with others crowding overpasses, waving flags.
President Trump, promising the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, declared a 'national emergency' at the southern border shortly after taking office. His executive orders aim to limit legal immigration pathways, enhance border enforcement, and promote aggressive deportation sweeps.
Estimates suggest 11 million to 15 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., including over 2 million in California. This group includes individuals who crossed borders illegally, overstayed visas, and those seeking asylum.