Overview

• Chicago’s traditional Grant Park gathering did not proceed and was replaced by a smaller El Grito at St. Paul Catholic Church in Pilsen under Operation Midway Blitz, drawing lighter crowds as some residents stayed home.
• Safety steps included perimeter fencing, on‑site lawyers, volunteer watch groups, rapid‑response teams and Know Your Rights materials, with officials urging those who felt unsafe to skip in‑person events.
• Sacramento’s State Capitol ceremony was reduced to a brief balcony program with mariachi and a virtual option, as the Mexican consul coordinated with city leaders and law enforcement to reassure attendees.
• Responses varied regionally, with thousands turning out in Watsonville for a full festival and San Jose proceeding at City Hall with doubled security, while several Sacramento‑area events were canceled or scaled down.
• Organizers cited strained planning and fewer sponsors, including added fencing costs tied to relocations, and Chicago students rallied Tuesday downtown to protest ICE actions during the holiday period.