This year’s Cinco de Mayo Parade in Chicago has officially been canceled, with organizers citing escalating fear within the city’s Mexican-American community in response to immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration.
The event, which traditionally takes place on the city’s Southwest Side and draws thousands to the streets of Little Village and along Cermak Road, will not proceed, according to a statement released Thursday.
The decision, organizers say, comes not from logistical difficulties or lack of funds, but from a very real concern about safety and federal immigration raids.
“Our people are scared,” said Hector Escobar, president of Casa Puebla & the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce. “Some don’t even want to go to work. They’ve taken high risks. And, definitely, it’s not much to celebrate.”
The parade, rooted in Mexican heritage and culture, has historically served as a community-building event and a celebration of cultural pride. But this year, the mood is markedly different. Since President Donald Trump’s return to office in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have reportedly increased in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Despite the city’s self-designation as a sanctuary, that status has not insulated immigrant families from the heightened climate of fear.
“Our community is very frightened because of the raids and the threat that ICE has imposed on families who work tirelessly to provide a better future for their kids,” Escobar said. “They’ve been bullied, prosecuted, and they’re not engaging in community activities. So, we feel that there is nothing to celebrate.”
Concerns over ICE presence at the event also led to a wave of sponsor withdrawals. Nearly half of the parade’s corporate sponsors pulled out. Though organizers say they could have proceeded with 50% of the financial support, they opted not to—placing the safety and peace of mind of the community over profits.
The cancellation adds to a recent pattern of instability surrounding the event. From 2018 to 2022, the parade was not held, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reported disputes between organizers and city officials. Last year, the parade faced additional hurdles when the route had to be changed following what police identified as a gang-related incident, resulting in multiple arrests.
Escobar acknowledged the uncertain future of the event: “At this point, we don’t know what is going to happen next year.”
