Puerto Rican museum staff on 'high alert' after DHS agents visited ahead of Chicago festival

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Concerns are growing at a Chicago museum celebrating the city's Puerto Rican heritage.

On Tuesday, staff of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture said agents who appeared to be with the Department of Homeland Security visited the location.

Now a community event this weekend in Humboldt Park has been postponed over concerns related to immigration enforcement.

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Department of Homeland Security officials deny their visit had anything to do with the Puerto Rican museum, but people there remain unconvinced.

Staff said they overheard the agents talking about an upcoming festival.

"We're not going to let ICE in an intimidate our families and instill fear in them. We know how to be strong and tough," 26th Ward Alderwoman Jesse Fuentes said.

On Wednesday over a dozen Latino local, state and federal elected leaders gathered to speak out against the unannounced visit.

The surveillance video shows a group of people and cars gathered at the back of the Humboldt Park parking lot.

The men arrived in unmarked vehicles and identified themselves only as Homeland Security agents.

"She proceeded to say they cannot be on the premises. It is a private area and a private facility and they said they could because they are the law, and they were not going to leave," said Veronica Ocasio, the director of education and programming at the museum.

According to Ocasio it took over an hour before museum staff went out to investigate.

Initially, staff believed the unmarked cars to belong to Chicago police officers who frequently use the parking lot around shift change.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied federal agents were at the museum in the following statement:
"FALSE. The Department of Homeland Security DID NOT target the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture. On July 8, HSI Chicago's Financial Crimes Task Force (FCTF) staged and held a quick briefing in the Museum's parking lot in advance of an enforcement action related to a narcotics investigation."

This upcoming weekend, the museum is hosting Barrio Arts Fest which is expected to draw large crowds.

Organizers now fear immigration agents might be targeting the festival.

The All Involved Block Party has now been postponed, organizers said.

"It is with heavy hearts that we are postponing CommunityHealth's All Involved Block Party (scheduled for July 12) until further notice," a statement read in part. "We made this decision in response to confirmed plans for immigration enforcement activity targeting public events in Humboldt Park this weekend."

They said they hope to reschedule the block party for sometime in the near future.