Carnaval de Puebla in Philadelphia canceled over fears of potential ICE raids

The Carnaval de Puebla, an annual celebration of Mexican culture in South Philadelphia, was canceled this year due to concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might conduct raids at the event.

Olga Rentería, a member of the carnival committee and an active participant in Philadelphia’s Mexican community, stated that the organizers had few options to move forward with the event. She emphasized that concerns over the safety of undocumented immigrants were voiced by attendees.

"People don’t want to participate because of what’s going on (...) People worry if they show up for the carnaval and ICE is waiting for them", Renteria explained in a statement reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The event was scheduled for April 27 and was expected to draw around 15,000 attendees, making it one of the largest carnivals on the East Coast. It was also reported that the event struggled to secure funding. 

In the meantime, organizers plan to host a smaller event. "This tradition means so much to our community, and we’re hopeful that the situation will improve in the coming years, allowing us to bring El Carnaval de Puebla back to Philadelphia."

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, an estimated 47,000 undocumented residents live in the city, part of the 153,000 across the entire state of Pennsylvania.