Cities across the United States are scrapping cultural events out of apprehension regarding potential ICE raids and deportations.
In the heart of Chicago, a vibrant community gears down:
For over four decades, Little Village neighborhood's Cinco de Mayo celebration has been a cultural spectacle, marked by parades, music, and dance. But this year, the vibrancy seems to have faded as the celebration has been called off.
Chicago, like many other cities, finds itself amid a wave of canceled or scaled-back cultural events—all due to the tough stance on immigration by President Donald Trump. Fear grips the Latino community, whether they're documented or not, as they worry about being arrested in public gatherings. This fear has extended to other aspects of life, too—attending church, going to work, or sending children to school.
Trump's administration has authorized the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target schools and churches, and to deport undocumented immigrants based on alleged gang ties, often with limited evidence. Since taking office, ICE has arrested nearly 66,500 undocumented immigrants and removed about 65,600 from the country in his first 100 days, according to newly reported data.
In Chicago, faith institutions like Lincoln United Methodist Church have halted in-person Spanish-language services due to ICE activity and threats from Trump supporters. Reverend Emma Lozano, a longtime champion of immigrant rights, criticized Trump for "breaking down doors, picking up mothers and fathers, and essential workers" after granting pardons to the January 6 rioters.
This fear isn't restricted to Chicago alone. UnitedWeDream, a leading advocacy group for young immigrants, found that 43% of Latino voters fear ICE will arrest them, even if they're U.S. citizens. Events like Philadelphia's El Carnaval de Puebla, an annual celebration of Mexican culture in April, and central Oregon's Latino Fest have been canceled due to these concerns.
Many immigrants, some of whom are legal or have pending citizenship cases, fear being profiled, arrested, and deported without due process. Organizers of cultural events feel compelled to protect their communities from ICE's scrutiny, even if it means shelving annual celebrations of joy and unity.
Clarissa Martínez De Castro, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, understands the precautions taken by organizations to ensure community safety. However, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will respect due process before deporting people. She urges Latino Americans to be aware of their rights and to stand together if targeted by ICE.
UnidosUS shares some hopeful news—80% of Latinos living in the U.S. are legal citizens. They continue to advocate for the recognition and protection of Latino heritage, reminding us all of the resilience and unity within these communities despite the challenging times.
- Amid the tense political climate, fears of ICE intervention have extended to education-and-self-development, as some community events like Chicago's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration and Philadelphia's El Carnaval de Puebla have been canceled.
- The general news landscape has been dominated by war-and-conflicts stories, with Trump's administration's increased focus on immigration enforcement and alleged overreach in targeting schools and churches.
- In the midst of this hard-line approach on immigration, crime-and-justice issues have also surfaced, as evidenced by the 100-day data showing nearly 66,500 undocumented immigrants arrested and about 65,600 removed from the country since Trump took office.
