ICE Raid Fears Force Nationwide Hispanic Heritage Month Cancellations

Many Hispanic Heritage Month events have been canceled nationwide due to fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and a hostile political climate under the Trump administration. Organizers cite masked ICE agents detaining even legal residents as reason enough to call off public gatherings. “It was a painful decision, but holding El Grito Chicago at this time puts the safety of our community at stake — and that’s a risk we are unwilling to take,” said organizers of Chicago’s Mexican Independence festival. Sacramento, Kenner, Indianapolis, and several Southern states have also scrapped long-running festivals, while companies and universities hesitate to hold celebrations due to anti-diversity directives.

Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, traditionally honors contributions of more than 68 million Hispanic Americans. It grew from a 1968 weeklong celebration, expanded by Ronald Reagan into a monthlong observance. Alberto Lammers of UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute explained, “It became a chance for people to know Hispanic cultures, for Latinos to get to know a community better and for the American public to understand a little better the long history of Latinos in the U.S.” But this year’s fear campaign disrupts those opportunities.

Illinois State Senator Karina Villa condemned the administration’s tactics: “The fact that the federal government is sending troops as we start these celebrations is an insult. It is a fear tactic. It’s unforgivable.” Mexican officials even warned migrants in the U.S. to avoid any action that could trigger deportation, urging them to gather safely at consulates instead.

Anthropologist Ivan Sandoval-Cervantes noted that canceling events “affects how we see them throughout the country,” forcing celebrations into private spaces where it’s “safer to embrace the symbols or even speak Spanish.” Chicago Latino leaders called for peaceful protests, vowing, “We will not allow others to use our fear or our anger against us… We will protect each other and peacefully protest,” said Berto Aguayo.

These cancellations reveal how ICE raids and anti-immigrant rhetoric erode cultural expression. Rather than fostering unity, federal intimidation is silencing traditions that showcase the richness and diversity of Latino communities. The scrapped events show a deliberate attempt to suppress visibility and pride during a month meant for celebration.

Link: CBSNEWS