Immigration enforcement concerns ahead of Fiesta Del Sol: 'Prepared to protect'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fiesta Del Sol starts Thursday in Pilsen.

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Community members are worried about federal immigration agents showing up to one of the largest Latino festivals in the country.

About 1.3 million people are expected to attend the 53rd annual event throughout four days.

On Monday, Fiesta Del Sol organizers, elected leaders and immigrant advocates called on federal agents to stay out of community festivals.

Earlier this month, Department of Homeland Security agents were spotted at the parking lot of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture ahead of the Barrio Arts Fest.

Museum staff reported seeing a large number of unmarked vehicles and men who identified themselves only as Homeland Security agents.

Homeland Security denied they were targeting the museum, and said they were having a quick briefing at the museum's parking lot in advance of an enforcement action related to a narcotics investigation.

Ahead of the event, organizers and elected leaders are demanding federal agencies not target their community celebrations.

"We are here today to show unity, solidarity" Fiesta Del Sol Co-Chair Juana Medina said. "To let them know that our community events are a safe place of joy, because, at Fiesta Del Sol, we protect our families and defend our rights."

Organizers said they've been working for months to ensure the festival will be a safe space.

"Even if such operations have not yet been fully executed, we can see that ICE is preparing for it. It's why festival organizers across the city and across the suburbs need to be prepared themselves," Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights spokesperson Brandon Lee said. "ICIRR staff provided training sessions for vendors and volunteers and 'know your rights' materials to pass out to attendees. Regardless of whether ICE shows ups, we all need to be prepared to protect our friends and neighbors."

Pilsen's Blue Island Corridor was quiet Monday, but it is expected to be lively by the end of the week.

"We are here to make sure that everyone is invited, first of all, and that we feel safe to continue celebrating life, celebrating our successes, celebrating the community that we are, the unity that we have," Medina said.

Beatriz Ponce de León, the city's deputy mayor of immigrant, migrant and refugee rights says, so far, festivals in other Latino neighborhoods have gone on, and people have shown up.

She is confident Fiesta Del Sol will be no different.

Ponce de León reminds people: If United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents come looking for someone, they must have a federal warrant.

"If they don't have a federal warrant and they're just looking through the crowd, then that could be racial profiling," Ponce de León said.

Besides vendors, Pilsen-area businesses benefit from a well-attended festival.

La Michoacana Premium Ice Cream is one of them.

While the popular spot's manager has not seen a decrease of customers because of ICE agent fears, he always welcomes more this weekend.

"A lot of the people, they live around the neighborhood. So obviously they're going to come in and have an ice cream or something different. You don't know what they're selling over there," Guillermo Zamudio said.

Fiesta del Sol begins Thursday at 3 p.m., and goes until Sunday at 10 p.m. It is free to the public.

ABC7 Chicago reached out to DHS and ICE, but has yet to hear a response.

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