Plans by President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and federal immigration agents to Chicago have led to the cancellation of several events marking Mexican Independence Day and sparked protests in the city.
Mexican Independence Day, celebrated on 16 September, is a major occasion for Chicago’s Mexican community, which accounts for around 21% of the city’s population. Annual festivities attract thousands of attendees. However, organisers have called off or postponed at least three events following the announcement of the federal deployment.
The administration intends to send 230 agents, most from Customs and Border Protection, from Los Angeles to Chicago to increase immigration enforcement, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Trump recently described Chicago as “the most dangerous city in the world” and declared: “We’re going in.”
El Grito Chicago, which drew 24,000 people last year and was scheduled for 13–14 September, has been cancelled. Organisers said the decision was “painful” but necessary to protect public safety. The Mexican Independence Day parade and festival in Waukegan has been postponed until November, while the Latin Heritage Fest in Wauconda has been cancelled.
Despite the cancellations, several thousand people gathered in downtown Chicago on Saturday evening to protest the planned deployment. Demonstrators voiced opposition to increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, the mobilisation of the National Guard, and the administration’s foreign policy, including its support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Protesters marched through the city centre, stopping outside Trump Tower to chant slogans and display placards. Chants included “ICE escucha estamos en la lucha” and “Viva Palestina”.
Danae Kovac, executive director of the Hana Center, an immigrant rights organisation serving the Korean community, said fear of deportation had increased. “We have a lot of community members that didn’t feel safe to come out to the rally today,” she said.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed concern that immigration agents might target attendees at Mexican Independence Day events. He suggested that the timing of the deployment was deliberate, noting that celebrations take place across the city in September.
Against Trump’s claim, Chicago not among most dangerous cities in USA
Contrary to Trump’s claims, Chicago is not among the most dangerous cities in the United States, and homicide figures have fallen compared with last year, according to The Guardian. The Pew Research Center estimates that Illinois had about 550,000 undocumented immigrants in 2023.
Some celebrations have continued despite the heightened tensions. A parade took place on Saturday morning in a predominantly Mexican neighbourhood, though attendees reported feeling anxious.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that Chicago was about to find out “why it’s called the Department of War” and added: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
Pritzker responded on X, stating: “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.
