Overview

• The 2025 Cinco de Mayo parade in Chicago has been canceled due to fears of ICE raids and deportation actions targeting attendees.
• Organizers, including Hector Escobar, prioritized safety over proceeding with the event, noting widespread anxiety within the Mexican immigrant community.
• Half of the parade's sponsors withdrew over safety concerns, further complicating efforts to hold the event.
• The decision reflects ongoing challenges for the parade, which has faced cancellations in prior years due to COVID, internal disputes, and gang-related violence.
• Chicago's status as a sanctuary city has not alleviated fears, as increased immigration enforcement under Trump-era policies has deeply impacted local communities.