Trump's immigration crackdown looms over Chicago's Mexican Independence Day celebrations
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Caravans clog Greektown in 2023. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
City officials and community advocates are preparing for Mexican Independence Day caravans downtown this weekend amid stepped-up immigration raids in Chicago.
Why it matters: The caravan celebrations in the past have caused massive gridlock and chaos downtown, but they could be muted this year because of fear over potential federal immigration operations.
The latest: The city is warning residents that officials could close downtown streets this weekend and only people with approved permits would be able to access the area.
Catch up quick: Downtown caravans have been part celebration, part protest for Mexican-Americans since the city canceled parades during the COVID pandemic in 2020.
- The mass caravans forced officials to shut down expressway ramps and other entry points into the city. Doctors, workers and residents were unable to get to work and home.
- Last year, the city set up checkpoints for residents and workers, but some residents and workers complained they were hard to get to, and police wouldn't let them through.
- The city debuted El Grito Chicago last year in Grant Park in an effort to quell the disruption surrounding the caravans.
Yet, but: This year, amid heightened worry about ICE raids and President Trump's "Operation Midway Blitz," organizers rescheduled the festival to Monday and moved it to Pilsen.
- Advocacy groups have also warned residents to consider skipping the downtown celebrations amid the ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
What they're saying: "It's very challenging on how to plan for this," Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) tells Axios. "We are planning for larger crowds, but certainly hoping those crowds don't materialize."
State of play: Hopkins says this year the city is more prepared with two new police helicopters equipped with tracking surveillance.
- "We've learned our lessons from the past," Hopkins says. "Each year, we get a little smarter on how to handle it."
The intrigue: Last weekend, the parade in Pilsen wasn't well attended, with some staying away from the event after rumors spread of ICE being nearby.
Between the lines: Trump is facing a win-win situation. Fear of ICE raids could alleviate the caravans — which Trump could take credit for — or the frenzy could give the president ammunition to point out why ICE raids and federal troop deployments are necessary.
Zoom out: In years past, the Chicago police looked the other way on minor traffic violations, but federal agents could crack down on even the smallest infractions.
- "Chicago doesn't want to see reckless, unconstitutional, militarized immigration enforcement in our city," Mayor Brandon Johnson said earlier this week.
The bottom line: The caravans could be a political litmus test for Chicago, forcing the city back into the national spotlight.