The 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade was held on Sunday in Little Village, despite increased fears of enhanced immigration enforcement under "Operation Midway Blitz." 

The event went off without a hitch with singing, dancing, and tons of Mexican pride. Reports that immigration and customs enforcement agents would show up did not pan out.

The parade lasted about an hour and a half, with red, white, green, and little digs about deportation everywhere you looked.

After a nod to ancient roots, it was time. The 54th rendition of the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day parade officially kicked off with thousands joining in the fun.

"I am really happy to see a lot of Mexican support. It is important in this time," said participant Lupita Romero.

Important because as people danced, sang, and made lots of noise, an uneasiness floated around the floats.

Some were worried about recent immigration and customs enforcement raids. 

"Some family didn't want to risk," Mirilint Morales said. "They feel afraid because they are illegal, some of them. So, they don't feel safe gathering where there's too many people."

One spectator agreed that 2025 attendance seemed to take a hit because of deportation fears.

"There's obviously less people, but people did show up. Because, with the whole ICE thing, I feel like, you know, it scared some people," Alexis Ramos said.

Berto Aguayo, police co-chairman with the Latino Council, said he noticed that people didn't stick around as much after the parade, which businesses benefited from in the past, at a time when business is already down.

Some organizers now strategizing on how to bring in business among present concerns.

"Not only are they impacting, you know, Little Village, Back of the Yards, where these communities on the South Side. They're impacting all of us because ultimately all of these businesses can contribute taxes to the city, and that means less taxes for the city, that means less revenue for everyone. When there's less business in our communities," Aguayo said.

"ICE and the federal government are deliberately causing fear in communities," said communications director Brandon Lee.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights armed the crowd with information.

A particular chant was also on repeat, calling for "not one more deportation."

"This is a moment of unity for Chicagoans to say that we don't want the administration's occupation of Chicago, whether that's the National Guard or that's ICE," Lee said.

Similar messages popped up along the parade route. A few participants carried posters with obscenities directed at the federal government.

The event wrapped up smoothly on Sunday, with no drama, just the theatrics of a group of Chicagoans proud of their culture.

"In times of a dark place, I think we can find something to share in common. It's a moment to remember our ancestry, and that's what brings me joy," spectator Monserrat De Leon said.

Parade organizers included know your rights information in their social media posts leading up to Sunday.