El Grito’s Grant Park Return, Car Caravans Downtown See Muted Crowds As ICE Fears Remain
DOWNTOWN — El Grito Chicago’s return to Downtown Saturday saw small-but-passionate crowds celebrate Mexican pride as concerns over immigration enforcement remain in Chicago.
The festival that marks Mexican Independence Day took over portions of Grant Park Saturday and Sunday, marking its return after last year’s edition was cancelled due to the start of Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the area.
City officials gathered last week to promise a safe weekend of Mexican Independence Day celebrations, as immigration arrests and the presence of federal agents have spiked over the summer following a winter and spring lull.
Despite those assurances, attendance at El Grito was sparse Saturday afternoon and evening. Some attendees chalked that up to fears over immigration enforcement. Car caravans in celebration of Mexican Independence Day were also muted in the Downtown area this year.
“Some people were already scared because they think that ICE might just pop out of nowhere,” festival-goer Isaac Cuellar said.
Others pointed to calls of a boycott of the festival, which went viral on social media this week, Those leading the charge cited festival organizer Korina Sanchez’s father Sam Sanchez’s support for President Donald Trump.
“It’s good to be back after it was canceled last year because of ICE concerns,” attendee Chris Beltran, who has attended previous El Grito events, said Saturday. “But its pretty empty today, probably because people are still scared about ICE, but also because of the boycott. It used to be packed from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. in the night, so its concerning to see.”
Restaurateur Sam Sanchez operates Chicago venues including Moe’s Cantina, Tunnel nightclub and Old Crow Smokehouse through his company Third Coast Hospitality, where Korina Sanchez serves as CEO. Sam Sanchez said previously he supported Trump’s “law and order” platform but took exception to the sweeping arrests and tactics employed during Midway Blitz.
Social media posts boycotting the festival spread on TikTok and Instagram in the days leading up to El Grito. Popular influencer Angel De La Rosa was among those leading the charge by noting Korina Sanchez working for her father’s company. Korina Sanchez responded in a social media post of her own claiming that the event was non-partisan and that her own political affiliation does not align with her father’s.
“I understand why some members of our community are raising concerns, and I respect that everyone will make their own decision about attending,” she wrote. “El Grito exists to support local businesses, celebrate our culture, and bring our community together around Mexican heritage and pride here in Chicago. Separately, speaking on behalf of myself, I want to be clear: I unequivocally do not support Donald Trump.”
A spokesperson for the festival, which includes live musical and cultural acts as well as art installations and Latino vendors, said a crowd estimate would not be available until Monday. The 2024 edition of the festival brought an estimated 24,000 people to grant park.
Attendees Diego Rivera and Meredith Cline said the boycott and the debate it caused was doing more harm than good.
“At the end of the day, I just want to show support for these vendors and small Mexican-owned businesses,” Cline said. “I just think the boycott is taking away from that.”
Rivera said those opposed to the fest should also skip larger, corporate festivals.
“I just wonder how many people boycotting this event put their money into Lollapalooza,” Rivera said. “I’d rather my money’s going here, towards Mexican people, than some big corporate festival.”
Cuellar also highlighted the positivity the festival is bringing to his community in Chicago.
“It’s just a good way for all of us just to come back as one after all the fighting we have been doing to work hard in this country,” he said. “They’re trying to kick us out, but on this day we just want to show everybody that we mean no harm. Our music is for everybody to enjoy. Our traditions [are] for everybody. Everybody’s welcome.”
El Grito is the cry of victory that is traditionally part of Mexican Independence Day celebrations. The holiday, celebrated annually on Sept. 16, commemorates Mexico’s independence from Spain following an 11-year war that ended in 1821.
El Grito festival returned to Downtown in 2024 after a 10-year hiatus to offer residents a way to celebrate Mexican heritage that did not involve car caravans.
Car Caravans Also Muted
Car caravan celebrations Downtown Saturday evening were also relatively muted compared to previous years.
The unsanctioned Mexican Independence Day gatherings exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where thousands of revelers would descend on Downtown to parade through the streets and wave Mexican flags from their cars.
Since 2025, those celebrations have decreased significantly due to police crackdowns and immigration enforcement fears, revelers and police told Block Club Saturday.
Last week, interim police Supt. Fred Waller told reporters that an increased police presence would be stationed across Downtown over the weekend to respond to the car caravan celebrations. Waller also warned Chicagoans that displaying a flag outside the window of a vehicle is illegal.
Despite the promise of police enforcement, some revelers still made their way Downtown. But they were few and far between, at least compared with previous Mexican Independence Day weekends.
“Man, it’s racist,” said one attendee who was downtown Saturday with a Mexican flag. “On Saint Patrick’s Day, you got all these white people celebrating in the street and the cops don’t do anything. Now people aren’t coming Downtown.”
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