LITTLE VILLAGE — The city’s largest Mexican Independence Day parade, held on Little Village’s 26th Street, carried on Sunday without a hitch despite the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts in the city.

Thousands of revelers packed the sidewalks for the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade, waving flags and blowing plastic horns. In stark contrast to the muffled turnout for Saturday night’s typically raucous car caravan celebrations, Sunday’s parade didn’t disappoint with a crowd only slightly smaller than typical, multiple parade-goers said.

“I think people just feel more comfortable going out during the day when they’re surrounded by people in the community,” said Damaris, who attended both Saturday and Sunday’s celebrations. “I have family members afraid to go out at night — afraid of the police, so it makes sense that there weren’t as many people out [Saturday]. We really have to just keep checking on each other.”

Spectators clap and cheer for elected officials walking in the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Anastasia Busby/ for Block Club Chicago

The parade kicked off at noon Sunday at the Little Village Arch, 3123 W. 26th St., before marching west towards Kostner Avenue, concluding around 2:00 p.m. The parade featured a variety of floats, live music, local advocacy groups and even several groups of Vaqueros on horseback.

Call and responses of “Viva Mexico!” echoed through the streets.

The 54th annual Little Village parade took place as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is undertaking Operation Midway Blitz, an effort to conduct immigration raids and arrests in Chicago. The efforts could have been timed to coincide with celebrations of the holiday, which are held in mid-September, local officials said.

El Grito Fest, held in Grant Park in honor of Mexican Independence Day, was canceled due to the ICE efforts.

Officials with the Little Village parade vowed to carry on their tradition as “almost like an act of resistance,” Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, previously said.

Some parade-goers held anti-ICE signs along the route. There were no reported sightings of ICE or other federal agents at the event.

Rep. Chuy Garcia, who represents much of Chicago’s Hispanic community in Congress, helped lead the parade alongside other progressive Latino elected officials in the city. He spoke to reporters shortly before the parade began and lambasted President Donald Trump’s administration and its treatment of immigrants in Chicago.

“[Celebrating today] is an important statement that shows that we have been here for over a hundred years as a community,” Garcia said. “We have friends and allies and people who love us across this city. … We will continue to live a normal existence and to be who we are and to continue to love and share everything that we are as a people with the rest of our city.”

People watch the start of the 54th annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Anastasia Busby/ for Block Club Chicago

People hold up “ICE out of Chicago” posters during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Anastasia Busby/ for Block Club Chicago

Similar to the previous weekend’s Pilsen Mexican Independence parade, marshals trained in rapid response techniques were stationed throughout the 26th Street parade route in the event of an ICE spotting.

Representatives from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights were present at the parade Sunday. The organization is dedicated to creating a network of resources for those under the threat of immigration enforcement actions and reports ICE sightings from around the state.

“Chicago and the state has a long history of welcoming people,” Executive Director Lawrence Benito said. “Whether it was people moving north in the Great Migration, or immigrants coming from all over the world — we want to continue to make sure that Chicago remains a welcoming city for everybody. We just want to show people that this city supports our immigrants, especially right now.”

Old trucks drive past La Villita during the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Anastasia Busby/ for Block Club Chicago

Noble schools march in the the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village on Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: Anastasia Busby/ for Block Club Chicago

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 Chapter marched in the parade and represented the Organized Hispanics Making Strides group, highlighting the contributions Latino-Americans make to the labor force in Chicago and beyond. It was the union’s first year being represented in the parade, member Frank Rodriguez said.

“I’m a third generation IPEW electrician,” Rodriguez said. “My grandfather, my father, all his uncles, all his cousins, all my uncles, they’re all electricians. Mexicans in my family have been celebrating this parade for a long, long time – but we haven’t been in it. So, seeing seeing the turnout and seeing this involvement from all the members is fantastic.”

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