小萝莉影视 celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month this Sept. 15 through Oct. 15,聽with stories聽spotlighting the contributions, culture and accomplishments of Hispanic communities across the D.C. region.聽
Organizers for the largest Hispanic festival in the D.C. region said while plans to continue the two-day event this weekend remain, some of its workers have expressed concerns for their well-being amid increased federal immigration enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard in D.C.
Maria Patricia Corrales, president of Fiesta D.C., told 小萝莉影视 all local and federal agencies have approved for the event since January, and no changes have been made to its permit.
However, she has received feedback from vendors and performers on their safety and security. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have increased the number of arrests they’ve performed nationwide since the start of the second Trump administration. In August, during President Donald Trump鈥檚 law enforcement takeover of D.C., more than 40% of arrests made were related to immigration, according to The Associated Press.
Delegations from all 16 participating countries as well as those who work the event were given the option to opt out due to the current climate, Corrales said. While they have never asked to show documentation of the immigration status of their performers, all delegations have been receiving daily updates on possible security searches.
鈥淚f you have concern of coming out, please do not come,鈥� Corrales said.
Nationwide ICE concerns on display in DC
Over the years. Fiesta D.C. has brought thousands of people to Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate Latino culture through food, live performances and a beauty pageant. It is capped off with a parade featuring traditional outfits and dances from all over Latin America.
However, the growing number of ICE arrests have made communities locally and nationwide worried about holding Hispanic Heritage Month events due to safety concerns. Recently, officials in neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland canceled their Hispanic Heritage Month celebration聽in Wheaton, citing concerns for those who would attend amid increased ICE raids. Others have elected to continue their festivities, including the in Virginia.
Following the cancellation of Salvadore帽isimo Festival, an annual event in Gaithersburg, Maryland in June, Corrales has insisted that Fiesta D.C. will continue as scheduled. She met with a representative from Homeland Security in August to work on parking logistics for the festival鈥檚 performers and has spoken with D.C. police on their permit. However, no discussion on searches or possible raids during the festival were discussed.
At the end of President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in the District, Mayor Muriel Bowser said her police department would no longer work with ICE as 鈥渋mmigration enforcement is not what MPD does.鈥�
However, concerns remain.
National Guard troops are welcomed to come to the festival and enjoy the festivities, Corrales said. But if random searches need to be executed, she is 鈥減raying to god鈥� that the event goes off 鈥渁s calmly as (it) usually is.鈥�
鈥淚f they feel that they need to come and search the identity of every single (attendee), they will have to do a long, long, long line to do it,鈥� she said.
A spokesperson with ICE told 小萝莉影视 in a statement that claims it intends to “target Hispanic heritage celebrations for immigration enforcement are false. ICE conducts targeted enforcement actions that are based on intelligence driven leads focused on aliens identified for arrest and removal from the United States.”
The spokesperson added that documented and law-abiding U.S. citizens have “no need to worry,” and the agency does not conduct law enforcement activities “based on racial or ethnic profiling.”
“Spreading false information only fuels unnecessary fear in our communities. ICE remains committed to public safety and carrying out its work with professionalism and respect,” the spokesperson wrote.
‘I cannot participate this year’
Many people who鈥檝e worked on Fiesta D.C. in the past have elected not to participate at all this year due to immigration concerns.
Sulema Pacheco, who handles the Honduran delegation of representatives and performers, told 小萝莉影视 some people, including those with proper documentation, have elected to stay away and will either support from afar or monetarily through donations.
鈥淏ecause of this, some people who have been with us before said, 鈥業鈥檓 so sorry but I cannot participate this year,鈥欌�� she said in Spanish. She later added “We cannot expose people or force them to participate but we cannot show fear.”
In a normal year, the Honduran delegation would include upward to 20 dancers and several representatives from aboard to form a large group for the festival and parade. This year, she said she expects to have less than half its usual size.
鈥淚t is likely we will have four or five pairs of dancers performing,鈥� Pacheco said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 if they don鈥檛 change their minds at the last minute.鈥�
Both Pacheco and Corrales confirmed that requests have been made by people outside of the festival鈥檚 board to cancel the annual festival due to the concerns of possible ICE raids.
However, Corrales said the show must go on.
‘The show must go on’
鈥淲e understand there is a risk of our community, but we have to embrace every single challenge,鈥� she said.
As done every year, Fiesta D.C. will highlight a Latin American nation with special events and performances. Honduras will be the highlighted nation with a dancing 鈥渕arathon鈥� revolving around Punta聽鈥� the country鈥檚 native dance.
Despite the smaller than usual attendance, Pacheco said all plans for her and the rest of delegation are a go, starting with a beauty pageant on Friday. She calls for the region to support the festival in person by attending to send a message: 鈥渨e have the right to say and do what we want.鈥�
鈥淚f only 2 or 3 of us go with the Honduran flag, our country will be represented,鈥� Pacheco said.
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