Politics

Under Threat of ICE Strikes, El Grito Canceled and Communities Prepare for Mexican Independence Day Celebrations

For the last 54 years, the Little Village neighborhood has played host to a Mexican Independence Day Parade.

Things will feel different this year.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement strike teams are likely to begin operations around Chicago in the coming days, and local officials expect agents to target large gatherings like the parades in Little Village and Pilsen.

While this weekend’s planned events are still scheduled to proceed, the two-day El Grito Chicago festival scheduled to take place in Grant Park Sept. 13-14 has been postponed due to the threat of raids.

“This was a painful decision; however, with the heightened political tensions and given our location in downtown Chicago, we need to keep our community safe,” said German Gonzalez, organizer of El Grito Chicago, in a statement. “To proceed in spite of the advice we’ve received directly from city and state officials and potentially expose our community to becoming collateral damage would be irresponsible. That’s a risk we are not willing to take.”

In addition to ICE agents, President Donald Trump has also been threatening the deployment of National Guard troops or other armed military personnel in Chicago.

Neighborhood community leaders say despite the threats, they are still coming together to fight back. 

“The point is to try to instill fear,” said Diego Morales, one of the lead organizers behind PUÑO, a volunteer rapid response group in Pilsen. “I think he targets us in a way because we are also very strong in our response. This isn’t the first time that Trump has targeted Chicago.”

The group is dedicated to protecting the community by responding to calls of federal agent sightings. They are also part of a larger network of groups mobilizing around their neighborhoods to inform people of their rights.

He says their mission is to educate and empower people, rather than instill fear.

“We have a hotline that exists at 855-435-7693, and that’s a place people can report ICE sightings that we will respond to in real time,” said Morales. “People can report people who were deported, people whom they know. You can find a variety of resources if you are a DACA recipient. It’s a hub of resources for us.”

PUÑO collaborates with groups like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Organized Communities Against Deportations.

They have developed a series of training sessions and resources that include a hotline where people can report ICE activity, seek support in locating someone in ICE custody, connect with an immigration attorney and gain access to health care resources.

A community group in Pilsen is handing out whistles so residents can alert each other about ICE raids. (WTTW News)

In Little Village, community members are passing out whistles as part of an initiative called “Blow the Whistle on ICE.” The aim is to alert people if they see ICE agents in the area.

“We have heard that in LA they turned off the cellphone towers and there was no way to communicate,” said Baltazar Enriquez, president of the Little Village Community Council. “So, if they hear the whistle and you don’t have papers, get away.”

Enriquez says the organization has also assisted dozens of families in completing legal documents, including power-of-attorney letters for children in case their parents are detained and information that attorneys can use to locate individuals taken by ICE.

He says the council’s team is assisting more than 30 families who have visited the center for clothing after many have stopped working due to the fear of deportation.

“Those who work in temp agencies, the day laborers in Home Depot, they are not going to work because they are afraid that if they go to work, they may be kidnapped by ICE … and you know, we just hug them,” Enriquez said.

With the threat of aggressive immigration raids on the near horizon, Enriquez says the simple act of getting involved and learning about protections can have a positive impact on both communities and individuals.

“What’s good for your mental health is getting involved, showing up, just something as simple as going to a training, learning about some of this stuff, even going to a protest, whatever ways that people can contribute,” Morales said. “And it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s not just strategically what’s going to be important for us to protect our communities, it’s also good for you.”

The state of Illinois and other groups have created a resource page that includes information on rights afforded to immigrants and legal help at illinoisimmigrationinfo.org.  

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