An annual festival in Philadelphia dedicated to honoring Mexican culture and history has been called off. The organizers explained that their decision stems from concerns that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might be present and target attendees.
Since President Donald Trump took office, ICE has apprehended numerous individuals, employing forceful tactics such as the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act to expedite their deportation and generate apprehension within the immigrant community.
The cancellation was initially reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
El Carnaval de Puebla, which drew approximately 15,000 attendees from across the US and Mexico in 2024, has been a yearly event in April for the past 18 years. However, organizer Olga Renteria stated that the community “does not feel secure” participating in a large gathering this year.
She informed CNN that people within the community, regardless of their legal status, fear that ICE will detain individuals within the crowd.
“We are not going to take a chance,” Renteria said. “Everyone is being cautious, no celebrating, no big gatherings.”
CNN has contacted ICE for their response.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office declined to comment, noting that the event is not sponsored by the city.
The festival was also cancelled in 2017, several months after Trump’s initial term began, due to organizers’ worries about the community’s safety from ICE. In 2017, ICE communicated to CNN that its “actions are targeted and intelligence-driven” and that it does not “conduct sweeps or raids that target aliens indiscriminately.”
“We don’t want any incidents. There’s a little bit of fear in the community,” organizer Edgar Ramirez told CNN in 2017. “It’s sad to cancel the event, but we don’t want difficulties for anyone.”
Eight years later, Renteria echoed the same sentiment, expressing sadness over the cancellation of “one of the most valuable traditions” and one of the largest carnaval celebrations on the East Coast.
“It’s incredible how changes in an administration can change everything in your life, even just celebrating carnaval,” she noted.
Organizers are considering hosting a smaller event for the community to celebrate, but the details have not yet been officially finalized, she mentioned. In the meantime, she encouraged those who had planned to attend the festival to still visit Philadelphia and its numerous Mexican-owned businesses.
