() An ongoing immigration and crime crackdown from the White House has disrupted festive Mexican Independence Day celebrations in Chicago.
Chicago, famously known as the Windy City, is currently in the spotlight as President Donald Trump intensifies his crime reduction efforts, leading to heightened immigration enforcement. This has left some mostly Hispanic neighborhoods feeling uneasy.
In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker has alerted residents about potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations coinciding with a significant Mexican holiday. Concerns have grown with the possible involvement of National Guard troops, causing certain organizers to call off their events.
Census Bureau data highlights that approximately 21% of Chicago’s residents are of Mexican descent, making Mexican Independence Day a vital occasion for areas like Little Village, which is affectionately dubbed the “Mexico of the Midwest.”
Despite anxiety in the community, the Pilsen area on Chicago’s west side, near Little Village, is determined to continue with its yearly parade, increasing the number of volunteers to ensure its success.
Lina Alvarez, a former National Guard soldier, expressed her distress: “It’s painful to witness my community being targeted. I have loved ones who fear being outside, worried about Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests, due to their random detainments without clear identification.”
Alvarez said she was deployed three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.
Alvarez continued, “Serving in the military while remaining silent can be tough, as voicing opinions against the administration is restricted. Now that I’ve retired, I have more freedom to speak up, and while my voice may not be the loudest, I hope it can represent those who can’t speak out.”
“If you’re a criminal, hey, you gotta go, you know, but if you’re a hard working person just trying to make a living, why you mess with them?” said Little Village resident Javier Rodriguez.
Some of the federal agents who assisted with ICE raids in Los Angeles over the summer have been transferred to Chicago. It’s still unclear when the Guard will arrive, or if it will.
‘s Ashley Soriano contributed to this report.
