“The Scream” goes dark in U.S. cities for fear of Trump’s immigration raids

The Mexican community in the United States, accustomed to commemorating the anniversary of Independence with large-scale celebrations, experienced an atypical September this year, as Donald Trump’s return to the White House, accompanied by a tougher immigration policy and massive ICE operations, led to the suspension of several of the most emblematic festivities. In Illinois, the traditional events in Chicago and Waukegan were canceled. One of the most anticipated, El Grito Chicago, which used to gather thousands of people in Grant Park, was postponed for fear that the raids would coincide with the celebration. The same thing happened in Pilsen, where the usual festival was not held, while the parades in the city were reduced to one in Little Village, with little attendance due to the fear of the operations. In Waukegan, the Fiestas Patrias parade scheduled for September 14 was also suspended, reflecting the tension that the Mexican community is experiencing in that Midwestern region. The situation was replicated on the west coast. In Los Angeles, the epicenter of the Mexican community, the raids generated protests that were contained even with the intervention of the National Guard. However, unlike Chicago, the Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee decided not to give in to fear and celebrated the traditional East Los Angeles parade, in its 79th edition.

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The festivity took place under strong security measures: private agents were hired, coordination was carried out with the Mexican Consulate, and strict controls were implemented to ensure the tranquility of the attendees. Despite the tensions, there were floats, folk dances, and an atmosphere of cultural resistance. The Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, one of the critical voices against Trump’s anti-immigrant policy, was present at the parade. “Proud to celebrate our culture, history, and unity,” she wrote on the social network X, in a message that sought to convey support and encouragement to the Mexican community. Thus, while fear prevailed in several cities, Los Angeles became the bastion of tradition, preserving a celebration that, beyond music and dance, became a symbol of identity, resistance, and pride.