Overview
- Organizers from the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce and Casa Puebla canceled the event for a second straight year, citing community safety concerns tied to immigration enforcement.
- They linked the move to Operation Midway Blitz, an aggressive deportation campaign carried out in the Chicago area last fall.
- Reports describe ICE and Border Patrol agents detaining residents, with some agents masked and chemical irritants such as tear gas used during operations.
- The impact has persisted in La Villita, Pilsen, and the Southeast Side, where residents continue to avoid large public gatherings and have mounted protests.
- The parade usually draws large crowds along Cermak Road, and organizers say they hope to resume celebrations when families feel safe and at ease.