50 people arrested hours after hundreds gathered for another anti-ICE protest in DTLA

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Last updated: Monday, February 2, 2026 7:46AM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News

DOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two protests in downtown Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday were overall peaceful before the night fell, and smaller groups of demonstrators faced off with law enforcement.

Thousands of people showed up for the "ICE Out" protest on Friday. Then on Saturday, hundreds of people gathered for an anti-ICE protest outside of L.A. City Hall.

A peaceful protest in DTLA turned chaotic after nightfall. Video shows tense moments as police declared a dispersal order.

AIR7 was overhead on Friday as a group of protesters began targeting federal agents guarding the loading dock of the federal detention center. The crowd threw trash and debris toward the shielded agent, video shows. The agents fired back with pepper balls and irritant sprays.

In total, eight people were arrested during the chaos, according to LAPD.

One person was taken into custody for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, one was arrested for a curfew violation, and six people were arrested for failure to disperse.

Again on Saturday, dispersal orders were issued, and an unlawful assembly was declared near the Federal Building.

Two protests in downtown L.A. on Friday and Saturday were overall peaceful before the night fell, and smaller groups of demonstrators faced off with officers.

AIR7 video shows fireworks going off near the intersection of Alameda Street and Temple Street.

Federal agents deployed tear gas after agitators in the crowd outside began throwing fireworks, rocks and bottles at them, according to police.

It appeared several people were lined up along a wall in handcuffs, likely being taken into custody.

In an update on Sunday, police said 50 people were arrested.

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Feb 01, 2026, 6:59 AM GMT

LAPD issues citywide tactical alert as group remains in DTLA after dispersal order

The city of Los Angeles is now on a citywide tactical alert, which means all officers must stay on duty and can not go home at the end of their shift.

Federal agents deployed tear gas after agitators in the crowd outside the Federal Building began throwing fireworks, rocks and bottles at them in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, according to police.

The city of Los Angeles is now on a citywide tactical alert, which means all officers must stay on duty and can not go home at the end of their shift.

AIR7 video from above the scene shows fireworks going off near the intersection of Alameda Street and Temple Street. Several streets in the area remain closed.

After Friday night's unrest, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli requested more federal officers, saying they're authorized to arrest anyone engaged in violence on the spot.

President Donald Trump also doubled down, saying he has instructed ICE and Border Patrol agents to be forceful in their protection of federal government property.

Feb 01, 2026, 5:34 AM GMT

Dispersal order issued for small group of protesters in DTLA, police say

A dispersal order has been issued, and unlawful assembly has been declared in downtown Los Angeles in the area of Commercial Street and Alameda Street.

According to Los Angeles police, demonstrators began throwing bottles, rocks and industrial-sized fireworks at federal agents in the area, and tear gas was deployed into the crowd.

Police warned that anyone who does not leave the area will be subject to arrest.

Eyewitness News crews on the ground said the peaceful anti-ICE protest earlier in the day ended, and the crowd left before a smaller group of demonstrators began to face off with law enforcement.

AIR7 flew over the scene and saw a handful of protesters in the street in the area shortly before 9:30 p.m. Fireworks were seen going off.

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Feb 01, 2026, 1:06 AM GMT

Hundreds gather for anti-ICE protest in downtown LA

Hundreds of people gathered for another anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gathered for another anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.

Tensions escalated on Friday night after the "ICE Out" protest also in downtown L.A.. Los Angeles police said eight people were arrested after demonstrators began to clash with officers and dispersal orders were issued.

Demonstrators hit the streets again on Saturday in protest of the Trump administration's immigrant actions. People are demanding federal agents to leave their neighborhoods.

This comes in the aftermath of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, which sparked national outrage.

An estimated 500 people gathered for Saturday's protest outside of City Hall. The protest was organized with a message to be peaceful, and was in accordance with the "ICE Out of Everywhere" national day of action.

The 50501 Women's March and Common Defense joined forces to organize Saturday's protest, with participants demanding Congress block funding to the Department of Human Services until federal ICE agents and Customs and Broder Patrol are removed from local communities. They say they hope the rally magnifies their voices for those who have lost their life in custody, as well as American citizens who have been killed while protesting.

"We're in the middle of something that has happened for years. This is a cycle that has happened. It happened with the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears, this happened with Nazi Germany, this happened with the transatlantic slave trade. We are repeating history, and we have the power to stop the cycle and do something about it," said high school junior Ava Pributsky.

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Feb 01, 2026, 12:59 AM GMT

8 arrested during chaos after protest in downtown LA on Friday, LAPD says

Tensions escalated when protesters started clashing with officers following the "ICE Out" protest in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.

Tensions escalated when protesters started clashing with officers outside the federal detention center following the "ICE Out" protest in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.

Demonstrators were seen throwing trash and debris at federal officers at the loading dock of the building.

Los Angeles police officers were called in to push the angry crowd back and restore order in the area.

In total, eight people were arrested during the chaos, according to LAPD.

One person was taken into custody for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, one was arrested for a curfew violation, and six people were arrested for failure to disperse.