An annual festival in Philadelphia that celebrates Mexican culture and history has been canceled due to concerns over the potential presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the fear that attendees could be targeted. The festival, El Carnaval de Puebla, has been held every April for the past 18 years and usually attracts around 15,000 people from the U.S. and Mexico. However, this year, community members expressed that they no longer feel safe attending large gatherings due to the risk of ICE detention.
Olga Renteria, one of the event organizers, explained that both legal and undocumented individuals in the community are afraid of ICE actions. As a result, the decision was made to cancel the event, with Renteria emphasizing the importance of caution.
This is not the first time the festival has been canceled due to safety concerns; it was also called off in 2017 after similar fears emerged following President Trump’s inauguration. At that time, ICE assured the public that its operations were targeted and not aimed at indiscriminately detaining individuals.
Renteria expressed sadness over the cancellation, calling it a significant loss for the community, as the festival is one of the largest celebrations of its kind on the East Coast. While a smaller, community-focused event is being considered, no details have been finalized yet. In the meantime, Renteria encourages visitors to explore Philadelphia’s many Mexican-owned businesses.