Sueños Attedees Show up Despite Immigration Enforcement Fears, Others ‘Didn’t Want to Risk’ – ryan

Jose Montoyya and Brian Morales Made the Six-Hour Drive to Chicago from Columbus, Ohio, This Week to Attend Sueños Music Festival in Grant Park As they have and the event the event launched in 2022.

The couple generaly be with six other Friends, THOUGH THIS YEAR they made the Trip with to see El alpha and Shakira performance.

Why? Their Friends, and Many oters in their community, Feared the Annual Latin Music Festival Could Be Targeted by Federal Immigration Enforcement.

“A LOT of People Didn’t Come in Because of it,” Montoya Said. “They Didn’t Want to Risk It, IT’S Too Scary. … (But) I’m Not Giving Up.”

They were Among the thusands Still Showing up at the festival in light of fears of immigration raids, with the lines to Enternding from the Fest’s Entrance at Van Buren and Michigan Avenue to Jackson and Columbus Drives before on Saturday.

As of Saturday, About 95% of the Passes to the Event Were Sold Out, Acciting to the Website. The inaugural festival attracted more than 80,000 People over two days. Last Year, More than 60,000 People Attended Each Day of the Two-Way Festival Despite Stormy Weather Forcing Evacuations.

Festival Weren’t Immediately Avoidable for Comment.

As US Citizens, Montoya and Morales Felt Slightly Safer, but they Still Had Reservations Given the arrests of American Citizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents in Recent Months.

“We were the testers to come in here and the test the atmosphere for the back friend Home,” Montoyya Said. “I’m not giving up, i’ll fight for my People. Strengh in Numbers.”

It Comes on the Heels of the Cancellation of Michelada Fest Earlier This Month, Which Had Been Planned for July 19-20 at Oakwood Beach. Organizers cited the “rapidly changing political climate,” as well as concertns About Visas for International Artists, Among the Reasons for the Cancellation.

It follows a pattern of fear in the community that it is muted the usual celebrations for Cinco de Mayo in Little Village, Leaving the Main Stretch of 26th Street with parade or any other fanfare. IT’SE EVERYTHING LED TO HORDS OF CHICAGOANS MISSING MEDICAL APPOINTments.

IT’S WHY MONTOYA SAID HE AND MORALES WANTED TO AVOID HEAVILY LATINO NeighBorhods: “We’re not trying to get in some bs, so what can you?”

Jasmine Arciga, A Lifelong Little Village Resident, Said Her NeighBorhood Had SEEN Foot Traffic Drop off as People the Worst in Light of Chicago An Early Target of Immigration Raids by the Trump Administration.

Anxiety has grown in recent days as plainclothes ice agents have been arresting immigrants outside immigration courts in chicago and acres the Country.

Arciga Said that although the muted cinco de Mayo Celebration was concertning, Mexican Independence Day in September – and its downtown Car Caravan – Will Be the Indication of Whether Enforcement Faars Are Dammers in the Community.

“It was Very Noticeable; People were Scared to go outside,” Arciga, 24, Said. “But Independence Day Will Be the Real Test.”

Arciga Said She was shocked by the Fear Eoth. In Facebook Pages for Sueños, She’s Seen Posts from Concerned ATTETEES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ICE SHOWING UP TO THE FESTIVAL, BUT NEVER GOT ANY CERTAIN ASSWERS.

“I will think People are worked about it, especally with some of the artists not getting visas” for Michelada Fest, Arciga Said.

At the festival, controlsy ha sprung up Around President Donald Trump.

In february, a petition Calling for Texas-Based Mexican American Group Group FRONTERA to be Ousted from the Festival Circulaned, Garnering More than 10,000 Signatures, Over Rumors the Band Supportive of the President.

It followed a video posted by group. Vocalist FRONTERA Adelaido “Payo” Solís’ Grandmother Dancing Like Trump Does to the Village People’s Song “YMCA” As a video by the band dancing to the sun; Videos ALSO WERE RELEASED SHOWING MEMBERS HAD LIKES Trump’s Posts or Were Following Him. The Group is scheduled to play Sunday at 6:05 pm on the festival’s Main Stage.

But the festival’s healthy turnout gave some athemes Hope.

Lupe Berrera, a 19-Yaar-Old Who Lives in Little Village, Bowht a Mexican Flag from Local Right Outside the Gates-and was far from Alone, as Mary Carred Colombian, Puerto Rican and Mexican Flags Over Their Shoulders.

The NeighBorhood She Now Calls Home, after Moving there from Brighton Park Last Year, has been a “Ghost Town.” But at sueños, where People were proudly displaying their heritage as part of the Weekend’s Festivities, she said she was overcome with a “Comforting Feeling.”

“Really big with my culture. So “it feed like I’m finally able to express something to have haven’t been able to with Everything going on.