A Newsweek article reports that several major U.S. cities, including Chicago, have canceled their 2025 Cinco de Mayo parades due to heightened fears over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Organizers in Chicago, particularly in the Little Village neighborhood, cited concerns over increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and the safety of undocumented community members as primary reasons for the cancellation.
Cinco de mayo Fiesta
This decision reflects a broader trend, as other cities with significant Latino populations have also suspended cultural events amid similar fears. The cancellations have not only impacted cultural celebrations but have also led to significant economic losses for local businesses that rely on the festivities.
Community leaders express that the current climate has turned traditional spaces of cultural pride into areas of apprehension, leading to a shift from celebration to caution.
Based on available information, the following U.S. cities expressed concern about holding Cinco de Mayo celebrations in 2025, primarily due to fears of immigration enforcement and ICE raids, though not all canceled their events:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- San Jose, California
- Detroit, Michigan
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- St. Paul, Minnesota
Really you can’t have a good Cinco de Mayo without the ICE!!
ICE and Chicago