By Protests erupted in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday as thousands rallied against President Donald Trump’s executive orders on deportation of undocumented immigrants and closing the United States’ southern border.
What became known as “A Day Without Immigrants” is one of the many protests throughout the U.S. calling for immigrants to skip work and classes to highlight the significance of immigration and how the deportation plans from Trump affect them.
Thousands of protesters gathered and voiced their frustrations as they marched through the city, filling the 101 Freeway and streets near city hall and the federal courthouse.
Demonstrators, draped with Mexican and other Latin American flags, represented their heritage by dancing to music blasting from instruments or speakers and cheering throughout the streets until nighttime.
LA resident and protester Vanessa, who did not share her last name due to safety concerns, said her displeasure with Trump’s first term causing family separation of children at detention facilities was the reason she showed up.
She also voiced her frustrations about how the government dealt with the lack of immigration support during the previous Biden administration.
“Unfortunately, so many issues are crashing right now,” Vanessa said. “For the last three weeks, this has been built up.”
Miguel Aledo, who is from Venezuela, protested with his flag and said his parents came with a dream.
Aledo wants to find better ways to bridge the gap between immigrants already in the U.S. and those still planning to go.
“I was kind of inspired by the whole world is behind us,” Aledo said. “I’m scared that this country that we called home is going to fall to a far-right regime, and we don’t want that.”
2/3/2025 – Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles Police Department officers attempt to break up the “A Day Without Immigrants” protests after declaring it as an “unlawful assembly” on Monday night. Photo credit: Jorge Hernandez
The LAPD declared the protest an “unlawful assembly” as they were dispatched to disperse the protesters out of the area.
According to the Central Division’s X account, a dispersal order was issued to clear the blockaded intersection of Temple Street and Main Street at 8:23 p.m.
As the protest lasted through the night, many protesters, including Vanessa, said they were not going anywhere.
For Vanessa, it is a call to end the injustice immigrants face to thrive in the U.S. under Trump’s second term.
“They’re moving to a system that’s not intended for us,” Vanessa said.
Future protests are planned for Sunday, Feb 9, in LA, along with high school students currently protesting at city hall.
