Multiple Latino Festivals Canceled Across US Amid Immigration Enforcement Concerns

Several Latino and Mexican cultural festivals across the United States have been canceled due to heightened immigration enforcement and fears within immigrant communities. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce canceled its annual Latino Festival and Parade, citing increased anti-immigrant sentiment and cooperation between state law enforcement and ICE under Gov. Larry Rhoden's Operation Prairie Thunder, which has led to racial profiling and fear among Latino residents. Similarly, in Northern California, the Mexican Cultural Center canceled the festival portion of its El Grito de Independencia celebration due to concerns over the current political climate and potential federal immigration enforcement targeting Latino gatherings. In Chicago, Mexican Independence Day festivals, including the widely attended El Grito Chicago, were canceled amid federal plans under President Trump to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents to enhance immigration enforcement, impacting local culture and tourism. Community leaders emphasize that while these cancellations protect safety, they also reflect the broader climate of fear and discrimination affecting Latino communities nationwide. Despite these challenges, organizers express a desire to continue cultural celebrations in safer, more private ways.