Organizers cancel South Philadelphia Cinco de Mayo parade because of ICE concerns
Philadelphia's Carnaval de Puebla is canceled because of concerns that immigration officers could target the event, organizers say.
Edgar Ramirez, one of the organizers, told CBS News Philadelphia the parade, initially scheduled for April 27, is canceled because of Immigration and Customs Enforcement threats against the Mexican community.
The event typically draws up to 15,000 people to Washington Avenue for a parade and a festival in Pennsport, according to Visit Philly. The festival celebrates Cinco de Mayo, which marks Mexico's 1862 win over France in the Battle of Puebla.
Organizers announced in February that this year's celebration would be canceled.
Olga Rentería, who is on the organizing committee for the event, said she got some calls from some people who were afraid to attend.
"The committee decided it was not a good idea to go with it because we didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable," Rentería said.
Anxiety in the Hispanic community has continued to grow since President Trump was elected and took office, Rentería said.
"Since the beginning of the year, how the situation has been going … people, even if they have a legal status, have been detained. So this has been a concern, that it's kicking in. This whole situation … it's getting out of hand," Rentería said.
David Piña, the committee's president, called the decision to cancel the parade disappointing.
"We don't feel free like we used to," Piña said. "We are starting to feel like we're not allowed to be in this country."
Organizers say they are now planning to hold a much smaller Carnaval de Puebla event at a Mexican restaurant in Society Hill.
The event will showcase the Mexican costumes that would have been seen during the parade. Rentería said it will be an opportunity to carry on the tradition safely.
"It means that we are still here," Rentería said. "That nothing can tear us from our tradition."
Four Brazilian workers at a grocery store in Northeast Philadelphia accused of being in the country illegally were arrested by immigration officers in March, ICE said. ICE agents also appeared to raid a car wash in North Philly in January.
Meanwhile, in Haddon Township, New Jersey, Turkish immigrants who own a restaurant were detained by ICE earlier this year, and one was held for about two weeks in a detention facility in North Jersey.
The Carnaval de Puebla was also canceled in 2017, the first year of President Trump's first term, because of concerns about immigration officers targeting the crowds.
