WATCH: Anti-deportation protesters block major freeway, spray graffiti amid Trump crackdown

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From Fox News: Hundreds of protesters flooded a busy Los Angeles freeway on Sunday morning, causing major traffic delays in response to President Donald Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown.

The protest began on Olvera Street at around 9 a.m. with a large group of participants. Nearly half an hour later, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced several street closures due to “a non-permitted demonstration blocking traffic” and suggested drivers find alternate routes.

The California Highway Patrol also confirmed the protests and encouraged people to avoid downtown Los Angeles while authorities attempted to gain control of the demonstration.

Many of the protesters could be seen carrying signs, waving Mexican flags and speaking out against Trump’s immigration policies. Officers could also be seen in riot gear and engaged in a standoff with the protesters.

“Law enforcement completely MIA here as they allow protesters to block the freeway and surround drivers, which can always end badly,” Fox News reporter Bill Melugin announced.

“Please avoid the 101 freeway in DTLA between I-110 and Mission Rd., as we work to remove a protest from the freeway. Accessing state highways or roads to protest is unlawful and extremely dangerous because it puts protesters, motorists and first responders at great risk of injury,” the CHP wrote on X.

Police, who were clearly outnumbered, were seen in a standoff with the protesters on the freeway.

Independent journalist Anthony Cabassa posted a number of videos on his X account, as thousands of Mexican-flag-waving protesters took over the streets of Los Angeles.

LAPD Riot Police have just arrived to where thousands of protestors are gathered, protesting President Trumps mass deportations.

A glass bottle was just thrown at LAPD officers, there are thousands of protestors, protestors are moving closer to police line, protestors being told to stay back.

Police gave protestors orders to disperse, and have begun pushing the protest line away from intersections. Tensions are high.

Police were reportedly able to push the thousands of protesters off the freeway, but later Sunday night, the protesters were back, blocking the freeway once again.

It appears police have forced protestors off the freeway, sirens and helicopters everywhere, source just told me they are completely overwhelmed due to many police still dealing with post fire operations. There are THOUSANDS of protestors.

Police have given the illegal assembly and order to disperse, protestors warning to be ready for mass arrests. Protestors saying they’re not dispersing. Arrests imminent.

Over 100 LAPD officers have just arrived with zip ties ready to arrest protestors.

Protestors are hopping over a border-fence to avoid arrests by LAPD after order to disperse. Many are still trapped by police lines and are expected to be arrested.

As LAPD were about to make arrests, all of the police officers just … left. I’ve never seen anything like this. Hundreds of police with zip ties, and all of them have just left. No arrests, protestors shout in victory as police leave the area.

I have never, in my 7 years of covering protests across the nation but especially Los Angeles, witnessed what I just saw right now. Journalists are puzzled as to what just happened.

Apparently, “what just happened” was the officers were ordered by their superiors to retreat… and they were not happy about it.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin wrote, “Hearing that LAPD rank and file who were down there are not happy about this apparent stand down order.
“Same old crap.”
“Chasing these guys around all day for nothing.””

Hundreds of protestors are back on the streets of Cesar E. Chavez by Union Station and dancing to “Fu** Donald Trump” in celebration of what they’re saying was a complete retreat by city police.

LAPD has just re-arrived to the location where protestors have remained gathered by the hundreds. It appears they will once again restart their crowd control tactics, asking the crowd to disperse.

LAPD have now begun breaking up the large group of protestors remaining. The group is being told to disperse. The crowd is moving back but comms picking up use of less than lethal and potential tear gas authorized if they refuse.

It appears all protestors have dispersed, police are leaving the area. What a wild night.

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