Thousands in Chicago celebrate Mexican American heritage amid immigration crackdown

CHICAGO — The annual Mexican Independence Day parade in Little Village on Sunday brought a sea of thousands of people wearing green and red waving Mexican flags of all sizes. Dozens of brightly colored floats highlighting Mexican culture by local organizations, businesses and unions were on display, as men on horseback, marching bands and dancers streamed down 26th Street in this majority Latino neighborhood.

Yet, the streets weren’t as full as in previous years, largely owing to fears over President Donald Trump’s efforts to ramp up immigration arrests in the city.

Maribel Izaguirre, 57, a Mexican immigrant who has lived in the United States for 25 years, said she knows some people were too afraid to join this year’s celebrations because of the political climate.

“I was also afraid, but my family and I decided we were all going to come out, we cannot let the streets be empty,” she said. “We have to have the courage to come out and say, we are here. We are proud to be Mexican.”

The Department of Homeland Security has launched what it calls Operation Midway Blitz, targeting immigrants in the country illegally in the sanctuary city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. The effort comes after Trump stated for weeks that he would soon be ramping up immigration arrests there in order to tackle crime, a move criticized by local and state officials who say data shows that crime is down.

Some paradegoers Sunday held signs protesting ICE and its activity in Chicago, as well as calling for justice for Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who was fatally shot by an immigration agent Friday. ICE said Villegas-Gonzalez was in the country illegally and resisted arrest. He attempted to drive away and drove his car into the officers arresting him, striking and dragging one of them, the agency said. The officer was in stable condition following the incident.

Advocates and some officials have decried the death of Villegas-Gonzalez and are calling for an investigation.

Democratic Rep. Chuy García, a member of the House of Representatives who is Mexican American, said the shooting was “reprehensible, unnecessary and did not need to happen. We warned that this campaign of lawlessness and terror could result in something bad happening, it did.”

Others at the parade held signs in support of Willian Gimenez, a labor activist who was recently arrested. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights displayed information on a truck in the parade informing immigrants of their rights. Calls to hotlines reporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity are high, advocates said.

Jennifer Aguilar, the executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, said organizers were prepared if immigrants were targeted. “We have rapid response teams on site. We have over 25 immigration attorneys on site, so we’re ready to face whatever comes our way,” she said.

Sunday’s parade went off without any incidents, despite previous fears that ICE might target events tied to Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Some Mexican Independence Day events were canceled in response to the worries, while others drew much smaller crowds.

Eduardo Pecina, 57, is Mexican American and said that although he is a citizen, he and many others fear being racially targeted for being Latino. He said he usually comes with a group of around 50 people, including some who are undocumented. This year, around 10 showed up.

“Everybody’s worried about that, that they’ll come up to you and drag you out of your car,” he said. “It’s a shame that we have to fear. You come over here peacefully, enjoy our culture, enjoy our food and enjoy everything that we have to offer.”

Izaguirre wore a green Mexico jersey and waved a tall pole with a large Mexican flag above her head as she stood with several members of her family, including young children. She said it was essential to pass on the traditions of her heritage to the next generation.

Many families with children were at the parade, as the kids watched the series of vibrant floats with wide smiles, some wearing Mexican flags like superhero capes, others blowing into plastic horns. At a nearby barbershop, customers angled their chairs to watch the parade.

Attendees said they would celebrate for those who stayed home and remain proud of their heritage in the face of threats to their communities.

Lupita Romero, 42, a chef and local artist, stood by her latest creations, several 18-foot-high hand painted skeletons made of papier-mâché. The skeletons are a symbol used in Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations that honor their ancestors.

“Especially in hard times, we have to remember they will always be alive in our hearts. We are never alone,” she said.

Two of the skeletons appeared to be riding bicycles and had their faces painted, including one with bright red and blue face paint and two long black braids on the side of its head. Others were painted in the style of Mexican luchadors with masks and capes.

“It is incredibly important to be out here and show support for ourselves and for those who cannot be here,” she said.

García said holding the parade in Little Village on Sunday was “an important statement that shows that we have been here for over 100 years as a community.”

Feliberto Ramirez, 72, who was born in Chicago and is Mexican American, said he felt proud.

“These are my people. They gave me my roots, my culture,” said Ramirez, who was wearing a T-shirt with an image of Native Americans in front of an American flag that read “Unless your ancestors look like this, you’re probably an immigrant.”

He said he feels that even though he is a third-generation Mexican American, “if ICE were to start arresting people without warrants, they’re going to pick me.

“I can’t change my skin color,” Ramirez added.