Chicago Pledges Bigger Police Presence for Mexican Independence Day Parades This Weekend, One Year After ICE Raids

Mayor Brandon Johnson stood near the Little Village Arch on Tuesday morning and told Chicago's Mexican community the city would not let federal immigration enforcement shrink this year's Mexican Independence Day celebrations the way it did in 2025.

"The first thing that we're doing differently is that we're actually coming outside and we're celebrating, and we're not going to allow the federal government to intimidate and stop us from celebrating Mexican heritage," Johnson said at the press conference, held at 3100 W. 26th St.

The announcement comes almost exactly one year after Operation Midway Blitz sent federal agents into Chicago neighborhoods conducting immigration raids, an operation that hit just before last September's holiday and left streets emptier than usual. Fear of encountering agents kept many families from the 26th Street parade and other gatherings last year, and the El Grito festival in Grant Park was canceled outright after organizers said threats tied to ICE activity made it impossible to hold safely.

This year, El Grito Fest is returning to Grant Park, and two parades are scheduled for Sunday: the long-running procession down West 26th Street in Little Village and a second parade on South Commercial Avenue. The 26th Street parade is the largest Mexican Independence Day parade in the Midwest, drawing roughly 400,000 people in a typical year. Mexican Independence Day falls on Sept. 16 and marks the country's break from Spanish rule after an 11-year war that ended in 1821. The celebration traditionally spills into the days and weekend before the date itself.

Johnson said the police department has been working to protect residents' rights while coordinating with organizers ahead of the weekend. "In terms of coordination, our police department has been working to make sure that we're protecting the rights of the residents of our city," he said. "So we'll continue to make sure that there is stronger coordination and better communication."

Interim Police Superintendent Fred Waller addressed the informal celebrations that have become a fixture of the holiday downtown in recent years, where large car caravans clog streets and people wave flags out of sunroofs and windows. Waller said an increased police presence will patrol downtown through the weekend and that officers could close off street access if crowds or traffic make it necessary.

"We want everyone to be able to celebrate safely while keeping streets and intersections accessible," Waller said. "Emergency vehicles, including ambulances, need to be able to travel. Every second matters during an emergency, so if needed, street closures will be implemented to safely manage traffic and maintain access for emergency vehicles. Residents and visitors are asked to plan accordingly for additional travel time."

If streets do close, the department listed several intersections that will remain open as emergency access points into downtown: Halsted and Washington, Halsted and Madison, Halsted and Jackson, Division and LaSalle, Roosevelt and Canal, Taylor and Desplaines, 18th and State, and 18th and Indiana.

The city's support stops short of covering unsanctioned gatherings. Police have already been issuing citations to drivers with flags mounted through sunroofs or windows, treating the practice as a traffic hazard rather than a form of celebration. Attendees have pointed out that downtown crowds get far more leeway on St. Patrick's Day and the Fourth of July, when large, rowdy gatherings take over public space without the same level of ticketing.

Little Village Chamber of Commerce director Jennifer Aguilar said her organization is focused on making sure immigrant families feel safe enough to actually show up. "The chamber is working with the city, immigrant rights organizations and legal partners on Know Your Rights resources so families can attend with a greater peace of mind," Aguilar said. She added that trusted community organizations will be stationed along the parade route and that the event is meant to remain "a welcoming, safe space for every family, regardless of immigration status."

Vendors reported lighter sales last year, and fewer families brought children to the parade route. The city is increasing police presence, clarifying emergency routing and adding legal support this weekend in hopes of bringing crowds back closer to normal size.

The 26th Street parade steps off Sunday morning, followed by the Commercial Avenue parade the same day, with El Grito Fest running in Grant Park through the weekend. Police have not said how many additional officers will be assigned to the celebrations, and the department's decision on downtown street closures will depend on how large the informal caravans and gatherings turn out to be once the weekend starts.