'ICE Out' protests begin in LA; demonstrators call for immigration raids to end

Thousands of protesters began assembling in downtown Los Angeles Friday afternoon in one of several planned demonstrations calling for the withdrawal of federal immigration agents.

The massive downtown protest officially started at 1 p.m. in front of City Hall.

It’s one of several “ICE Out” events expected in the L.A. region and around the country Friday and Saturday in response to the Trump administration’s immigration actions, which many have described as overreaching and unconstitutional.

Crowds of protesters participate in an "Ice Out" demonstration in downtown Los Angeles.

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Other local protests are planned in Santa Monica, Culver City, Torrance, El Monte, Monrovia and Pasadena.

The protests are also in response to the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — both fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis — and the deaths of people held in ICE custody.

People partake in a "National Shutdown" protest against ICE in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 30, 2026.

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By mid-afternoon, there appeared to be as many as 5,000 thousand people or more assembled downtown. Initially, many people gathered on Spring Street in front of City Hall and around a flatbed truck that was being used as a makeshift stage.

Later, the crowd moved along Temple Street toward the Metropolitan Detention Center. Shortly before 3 p.m., many people were heading toward Chinatown.

Many carried signs with the words, "ICE OUT" and other pointed messages referencing the immigration raids and President Donald Trump.

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 to protest immigration raids and the fatal shootings of two people in Minneapolis by federal agents.

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Steve Frintner, 66, from Burbank was marching with his son and daughter.

"There's people who have been out here every time for these rallies, but there's got to be more of us, " he said. "We all have to show that we're not going to stand for what this administration has been doing to our country."

Frintner said marching was a little tough for him physically but he felt it was important to be there. In addition to the shootings in Minneapolis, he noted the fallout from ICE activity in L.A., Chicago, Portland and other cities.

"This is the kind of thing that in other societies our country fought against, and now we are seeing it happening on a daily basis," he said. "And I don't know how people can not see what the problem is."

There did not appear to be a large law enforcement presence early Friday afternoon. LAist reporters spotted a few Los Angeles city police and county sheriff's vehicles around the crowd perimeter.

Demonstrators sit in grass in downtown Los Angeles during an "ICE OUT" protest on Jan. 30, 2026. The protesters are calling for an end to federal immigration raids and reacting to recent fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

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Matt Carlin, 48, of Los Angeles said he decided to participate in the protests because he believes "a line has been crossed" by federal authorities, whom he repeatedly called "fascists" and accused of acting as secret police. He said the deaths in Minnesota were "disgusting" and "upsetting," but were the logical progression of an administration that wants to rule by fear.

"It's unacceptable and it's time for people to stand up," he told LAist. "And I think doing it on a weekday sends a stronger message, and not shopping and not getting on Facebook and Instagram."

He said it's important to show supporters of the Trump administration that "we're serious about this."

Protesters descend on L.A. City Hall Jan. 30, 2026.

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Genaro Molina

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Uma Sanasaryan, 50, said she is originally from the former Soviet Union. She said she has seen people get "snatched up" in her Atwater Village neighborhood — a violation of human rights.

"I am an immigrant myself and we literally escaped Soviet tyranny to come to the United States so that we could feel free and have the freedom of speech and, you know, the ability to pursue our dreams," she said. "To do things with our lives that we could never do anywhere else."

She said the country where she came to build her American Dream "collapse in the last 10 years" is "horrific."

Sanasaryan noted she is a naturalized citizen, but that doesn't ease her concern.

"They could come for me they could come for anyone," she said. "It doesn't matter anymore."

The Department of Homeland Security has said immigration agents were targeting violent criminals, but there has been ample evidence to the contrary.

Reports released last year noted that about half of the thousands of people held in ICE custody had no criminal convictions.

This is a developing story and will be updated.