Governor JB Pritzker says he has been warned that expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations will begin this coming weekend. Chicago area Latino groups have been made aware and s a result, several festivals have been postponed.
The scheme to expand ICE operations and insert military forces into Democratic leaning cities is said to have been devised by political strategist Stephen Miller. The specific timing to coincide with Latino festivals would not be a surprise given the political nature of how this current White House behaves.
“After careful consideration and at the recommendation of State of Illinois and City of Chicago officials, organizers have decided to postpone El Grito Chicago due to possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and a potential National Guard deployment,” organizers said in a statement. “Given the festival’s location in downtown Chicago, organizers recognize that the festival is a more visible target and have determined that keeping the community safe must be the top priority.
The Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago is being used as a support facility by the agents and possible national guard troops, if Trump is able to include them.
In adjacent Waukegan, the Fiesta Patrias parade that planned for September 14th has been postponed. Margaret Carrasco, president of Fiesta Patrias, said in a statement, “On behalf of the entire Fiestas Patrias Organizing Volunteers we are sincerely sorry, but this was the Smartest and Safest Strategy to do to protect our community.”