CHICAGO, USA – September 8, 2025
This year’s Mexican Independence Day festivities in Chicago were clouded by unease, with several events either seeing lower attendance or being postponed due to fears of heightened immigration enforcement. Community organizers and residents cited concerns over the planned deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and National Guard troops in the city, which contributed to a palpable atmosphere of anxiety.
Headline Points
* Attendance Drop: While the annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade went forward, reports indicated a noticeably subdued crowd compared to previous years. Organizers of a similar parade in nearby Waukegan, Illinois, chose to postpone their event entirely until November, citing safety concerns.
* Safety Concerns: Organizers for the annual El Grito Chicago festival, a major event that attracts thousands, made the “painful decision” to postpone, stating the risk to community safety was too great. The decision came amid threats from the Trump administration to send federal agents to Chicago, a move that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has vehemently opposed.
* Community Response: In response to the federal threats, community groups and volunteers took action. In the Pilsen neighborhood, volunteers handed out whistles and flyers with instructions to “Blow the whistle on ICE!” as a nonviolent way to alert others to the presence of agents. Some residents reportedly carried their U.S. passports for protection.
* Political Tensions: The celebrations unfolded against a backdrop of escalating political tensions. President Trump’s threats of federal intervention, which he has stated are to combat crime, have been widely criticized by local officials as a political tactic meant to instill fear. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing city agencies not to cooperate with what he called “unlawful or unconstitutional actions” from federal immigration enforcement.
