El Grito Chicago Festival Postponed Amid Safety Concerns Over Potential ICE Activity

CHICAGO, IL — September 5, 2025 — The vibrant El Grito Chicago festival, a two-day celebration of Mexican Independence Day scheduled for September 13-14 in Grant Park, has been postponed due to heightened safety concerns, organizers announced Thursday. The decision follows warnings from city and state officials about potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and the possible deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, which could target Mexican Independence Day events.Organizers, led by German Gonzalez and Korina Sanchez, expressed heartbreak over the postponement, emphasizing that the safety of the community, attendees, performers, vendors, and staff remains their top priority. “This was a painful decision; however, with the heightened political tensions and given our location in downtown Chicago, we need to keep our community safe,” Gonzalez said in a statement. The festival, expected to draw thousands to celebrate Mexican culture with live music, traditional food, and family-friendly activities, was seen as a “more visible target” due to its prominent downtown location.

The postponement comes amid fears of increased federal immigration enforcement, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stating that ICE may target Mexican Independence Day celebrations, including community picnics and parades. “It breaks my heart to report that we have been told ICE will try and disrupt community picnics and peaceful parades,” Pritzker said earlier this week, suggesting the timing of the operations in September was deliberate. Reports also indicate that ICE agents may use Naval Station Great Lakes as a base and operate a 24/7 processing center in Broadview for 45 days, heightening community concerns.

El Grito Chicago, organized by the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago, Grito 916, and Special Events Management, was set to feature chart-topping regional Mexican artists, mariachi bands, ballet folklórico performances, and a kids’ zone with carnival rides and art workshops. Last year’s event attracted 24,000 attendees with no reported incidents, marking a successful return of the festival to Grant Park after a decade-long hiatus.

Despite the postponement, organizers urged Chicagoans to celebrate Mexican Independence Day “in a safe, respectful, and responsible way” and to support Mexican-American businesses across the city. Full refunds for all purchased tickets will be processed within 7 to 10 business days, returning to the original form of payment.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed disappointment, calling the situation “shameful” and attributing the postponement to “the President’s reckless, militarized immigration enforcement tactics.” Johnson emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting safe celebrations, stating, “We respect that the organizers are doing what they believe is in the best interests of the city and the Mexican community.” The city clarified that it did not recommend canceling or postponing the event, leaving the decision to the organizers.

The postponement follows a similar decision in Waukegan, where a Mexican Independence Day parade was rescheduled for November due to similar concerns. However, other events, such as the Pilsen parade on Saturday and the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sunday, are proceeding with added precautions, including volunteers equipped with radios and “know your rights” cards to monitor for immigration enforcement activity.

No new date for El Grito Chicago has been announced, but organizers vowed to bring the festival back “stronger, prouder, and more united than ever before.” For refund details and updates, visit elgritochicago.com.

The broader context of these cancellations reflects growing unease among Chicago’s Mexican and Latino communities as they navigate celebrating their heritage amid fears of federal intervention. As the city braces for a weekend of scaled-back festivities, the resilience of Chicago’s Mexican community remains a focal point, with calls for unity and safe commemoration of Mexico’s independence from Spain, first sparked by Miguel Hidalgo’s “El Grito de Dolores” in 1810.

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