Fear Casts a Shadow Over Chicago’s Día de los Muertos and Halloween Celebrations
Amid heightened immigration enforcement, communities in Chicago are experiencing a somber shift in traditional autumn festivities.
For 40-year-old Cecilia Romero, the days leading up to and following Halloween have always been more than just a holiday – they represent a cherished connection to her childhood and a chance to share those traditions wiht her children in the neighborhood she grew up in. She fondly remembers streets bustling with families, vendors selling seasonal treats and cempasúchil, the vibrant marigolds used to honor loved ones during Día de los Muertos, observed from november 1st to 2nd. But this year,a palpable fear has descended upon these celebrations,stemming from ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout Chicago and its surrounding areas since early september.
“Clearly, it’s as of ICE,” Romero stated, reflecting the anxiety gripping manny families. She referenced Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s unsuccessful request to the Trump governance to temporarily halt immigration enforcement during the Halloween weekend, beginning Friday. “I think people are just scared. It’s just kind of sad that kids are not allowed to have fun on a day where they should be [kids].”
The traditionally vibrant neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village, where Halloween, All Saints Day, and Día de los Muertos celebrations are deeply rooted, have been notably affected. The fear of separation and deportation has cast a long shadow, leading to a noticeable decrease in attendance at community events and a general sense of unease.
“It’s a very different feeling,” Romero added.
[Image of federal agents detaining two men in Chicago on October 31,2025,provided by Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images]
Despite the pervasive anxiety,communities sought to maintain their traditions.At the soccer fields of St. Procopius Catholic church and School, the annual Día de los Muertos celebration continued with elaborately decorated altars honoring deceased loved ones.These altars, adorned with photos, favourite snacks, personal belongings like rosaries and bags, and the iconic orange marigolds (sometimes substituted with plastic alternatives), alongside votive candles, decorated skulls, and depictions of the Virgin Mary, served as a poignant reminder of enduring cultural practices.
Though, attendance was noticeably lower than in previous years. Isabel Hernández, 27, who was tending to an altar for her grandmother, Lorenza Hernández, observed, “it would be packed from the afternoon till the end, like there will be people coming in and out and so you can definitely see a change or a shift – but I don’t think that has to do with the [lack of] motivation or the love for the holiday.” She attributed the decreased turnout to “part of the fear right now of … what’s going on in the city, in the country.”
Hernández expressed particular concern for those recently bereaved, who may feel unable to participate in the traditions due to the climate of fear.”I don’t think the grieving is going to ever just go away, but I think you just have to heal with time … or be able to control it some more,” she said. “I can’t even imagine, for those that just recently lost someone … what they’re experiencing seeing people celebrating and then not being able to celebrate with others. I think that’s really hard.”
Despite the sadness, Hernández’s mother, Cecilia, 52, emphasized the importance of continuing these traditions. “One of the questions was like, ‘Should we have this event take place?'” she recalled. “For me personally,I was like,’Yes,let’s have it,’ because we don’t want what’s happening out there with ICE [to] take that away from us.”
Romero echoed this sentiment,expressing a simple hope: “hopefully,ICE will leave,” she said. “We don’t want them here. We don’t need them here. You know, our city – and I think our country – has been doing fairly well without them coming in.”
