Just as Bad Bunny cited immigration raids as the reason he won’t tour the United States, millions of Latinos have had their celebrations canceled this month to avoid arrests. Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, is marred this year by the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the streets.
Parties, parades, dances, cultural exhibits and culinary events normally mark these dates each year, celebrating the contribution of Hispanics to the United States, where they now represent 20% of the population. However, this year the Hispanic community doesn’t want to risk arrest in a country where even the Supreme Court has ruled that their language, physical appearance and activities are sufficient reason for immigration agents to assault them.
“Different organizations that are part of our network have canceled celebrations and cultural events held in places like Chicago, North Carolina, or Florida because they are afraid that these events will serve as a place for ICE or federal agents to take people away,” explains Frederick Vélez, communications director of the Hispanic Federation. His organization already suffered the effects of the Trump administration’s policies this summer. After months of preparation, they had to cancel the opening party for their Los Angeles office because the Republican president sent the National Guard to the city that same day. They also decided not to hold an annual event for Latino families in the New York borough of Queens. “We don’t want to gather our community in a place where we can’t keep them safe,” he says.
September 15 was chosen as the starting point for Hispanic Heritage Month to coincide with the anniversary of El Grito, which in 1810 began Mexico’s war of independence from Spain.
In Chicago, where Mexican Independence Day celebrations typically stretch for weeks with parades and festivals, Operation Midway Blitz, announced by the Trump administration against illegal immigration, has raised alarm bells in the community.
The increased presence of ICE agents and the resulting uncertainty led to the cancellation of El Grito Chicago, a two-day festival held in downtown Grant Park. “It was a painful decision, but holding El Grito Chicago at this time puts the safety of our community at risk, and that’s a risk we’re not willing to take,” the organizers stated.
In Everett, Massachusetts, the mayor has canceled the River Festival, scheduled for the 20th of this month in Rivergreen Park. “We know how much this event means to our city. It is a celebration of culture, music, food, and togetherness. However, with the recent ICE raids in our region, many of our friends and neighbors are feeling fear and uncertainty,” Mayor Carlo DeMaría announced. This is the first time in more than two decades that Everett residents have missed out on the festival, but even those responsible for preparing the food for the event preferred not to attend. “We believe it would not be right to hold a celebration at a time when members of our community might not feel safe attending,” the mayor noted.
Citizens’ response has been mixed. Many lament the situation created by President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies. Others expressed their discontent with the cancellation, although not for the same reasons. “How annoying! I wanted to see the cockroaches running,” one citizen wrote in the comments on the announcement posted on Facebook.
Supporters of Trump’s policies argued that those who have something to fear are in that situation because they are in the country illegally. “That’s not the reality. There have been U.S. citizens who have been detained and spent time in detention centers. It also affects people with valid status. I myself am a citizen and I’m not going to these events,” says Vélez, of the Hispanic Federation.
Two U.S. citizens were among five people arrested in an ICE raid early Tuesday morning in Elgin, Illinois. Both citizens were later released. Residents said the deployment of federal agents was excessive and included drones, helicopters, and armored vehicles.
The cancellation of celebrations or the shift to private events, held in closed locations that ICE agents cannot access, has been playing out across the country.
Other events that have been canceled include the Carolinas Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Kenner, Louisiana, and FIESTA Indianapolis.
In Baltimore, Maryland, two events have been canceled and three others have been moved to closed venues. “It’s unfortunate that people can’t be proud of their country of origin and their ethnicity and celebrate. But we live in different times now. People should do what makes them feel safe,” Catalina Rodríguez Lima, director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, told The Baltimore Banner.
The modified events, he explained, will be held in community centers or churches, where organizers can better manage the flow of people and control access.
The blow from the Supreme Court
Some of the cancellations were announced months ago. Others, however, held out until the last minute. But the increase in ICE attacks on the Latino community and a controversial Supreme Court decision led to their reversal. On September 8, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of racial profiling as a basis for immigration agents to stop people. It was yet another endorsement from the Supreme Court of the Trump administration’s campaign of mass deportations.
“Instead of celebrating with joy, our community is facing fear and uncertainty that overshadow this important moment of cultural connection and celebration,” said Susana Barrios, president of the Latino Circle for Racial Justice. The organization holds an annual festival featuring folkloric music and dance in Patterson Park in Baltimore. Organizers expected a smaller attendance this year, but ultimately canceled the festival, largely due to the court’s ruling.
The celebration of Hispanic culture hasn’t been received equally at the White House either. Last year, then-President Joe Biden hosted a reception with Latino guests, attended by actress Jessica Alba as a special guest. This year, the current occupant of the official residence hasn’t announced any events.
Despite the cancellations, festivals and other events are still planned. One of the most popular is Fiesta DC, which has been held in the capital since the 1970s. On September 27 and 28, the streets of downtown DC will host Latin music, folkloric dancing, and a parade on Constitution Avenue.
“This is a time when we celebrate diversity, the economic impact we bring to the United States. There are second- or third-generation Latinos who may not have been able to experience or remember their countries, the different dances, the food, the music… Not being able to attend these festivals destroys the cultural essence that makes us Latino,” says Vélez.
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