Hundreds of demonstrators brought traffic to a standstill on a major Los Angeles freeway Sunday morning, protesting President Trump's intensified immigration enforcement actions. The demonstration originated on Olvera Street around 9 a.m. and quickly escalated, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to close several streets due to the unpermitted gathering obstructing traffic. Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) also confirmed the protest activity and urged people to steer clear of downtown Los Angeles while law enforcement worked to manage the situation. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the CHP emphasized the illegality and danger of using highways for protests, highlighting the risks to protesters, drivers, and first responders.

Participants carried signs, some waving Mexican flags, expressing their dissent against the president's immigration policies. A standoff ensued between protesters and officers equipped in riot gear. Some signs declared "No human is illegal on stolen land" and "Fight ignorance, not immigrants."

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show some individuals defacing freeway walls with graffiti and vandalizing a vehicle trapped within the throng. Conservative commentators on social media criticized the protesters' actions, calling for swift intervention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The protests come amid a surge in ICE arrests, with over 7,400 illegal immigrants apprehended nationwide in just over a week as part of the administration's crackdown. Nearly 6,000 ICE detainers have also been placed. The White House has confirmed the commencement of deportation flights, emphasizing the administration's commitment to enforcing immigration laws. The administration has stated its focus on deporting violent illegal immigrants, with some potentially being sent to Guantánamo Bay. This has sparked strong opposition from several Democratic leaders. Fox News Digital reached out to Governor Newsom's office and Mayor Bass for comment, with the former referring inquiries to the California Highway Patrol, and the latter unavailable for comment.