Colorful parades with large and small tanks filling the main streets, dance music to sound everywhere, from Mariatsi and Ransera to Salsa and Batsata. And of course beer and daisies flowing abundant.
Every May 5, in all their big cities, especially where they live, work and interact with the locals by the Latin American communities, the inhabitants are all celebrating together.
The reason is the victory of the Mexican army over the French under Napoleon III in the city of Puubla in 1862.
But they are essentially celebrating the friendly coexistence of Americans in the new homeland (Mexico’s Independence Day is on September 16 and only in Publa celebrate the Cinco de Mayo).
The fiesta usually started early and held all day.
In the Little Village area in Chicago, for example, where the largest community of Latin Americans in the Midweds is located, 5or May is something like a national holiday.
“Mexico has received almost 39,000 deported US.”
A large parade has been taking place for 45 years, which has been gathering about 300,000 people on the streets and shops. But this year, things are very different.
Trump Policy cancels festivals
This year the Cinco de Mayo is another reminder of how much it has changed, since January, everyday life for some people.
The celebrations in various cities were canceled one after the other. Those who again refused to change their program, advising residents who are not sure of their papers to stay home.
This year the celebrations for the Cinco de Mayo have been limited.
The organizers warned that Ice (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement)-that is, aliens-maybe they may have found an opportunity to make raids. So many have decided to celebrate at home by baking in the yard.
Biden had expelled more
According to the Reuters agency, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sinbaum, said that, since the beginning of Trump’s rule.
The 33,000 of them are Mexicans. A number that is much less than the approximately 52,000 deported by the US during last year’s respective months (under the presidency).
“Many times people do not know where they will end up.”
This is because, according to the president, that many more tried to violate the border last year. Also, the deportations in previous years were made by foreigners in American territory.
Representation of Puebla’s battle.
The current government is aiming for immigrants who have been living peacefully in America for 10, 20, even 30 years. They arrest them in their own houses and the whole process is done through concise procedures and without many times people know where they will end up.
Ice raids desert whole neighborhoods
The former bustling neighborhoods of Latin Americans, which were a beautiful mosaic of different cultures, have been deserted. Residents, although 80% are legal in the country, feel that they have been targeted.
“Children, even toddlers, are forced to present themselves to courts without a lawyer.”
They leave their home only for the absolutely necessary. Some, who can, have stopped working. Ice’s raids on restaurants have made these businesses close or see their profits significantly reduce.
Trump during his visit to the border with Mexico (Reuters/Go Nakamura)
Various, non-profit organizations undertake to inform residents of their rights. Among other things, do not open the door to the Ice if there is no warrant, to request legal representation, etc.
Trump vs Chicago
Since the beginning of his second term, the US president has not seen with a good eye the reluctance of the officials in Chicago to help Ice’s work. On the contrary, it is one of the “Sanctuary Cities” of the US, which does not cooperate with the migrant authorities.
The deportations are massive and are done by concise procedures.
They refuse to facilitate their work and give no information to any resident requested. For this reason, Trump has hard his attitude and reinforced the raids in Chicago. He ordered ICE to enter schools, churches and wherever he thinks it is necessary. Some families have reached the point of not sending their children to school to be safe.
Young children, alone, faced with justice
One of the toughest aspects of this issue has to do with one of the most vulnerable parts of society, which relates to reducing funding in organizations providing legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. So children, even toddlers, are forced to present themselves to courts, without a lawyer.
A federal court in San Francisco again ordered the Trump government to restore funding. Although the court had issued a temporary order since April 1, the government had not complied.
Trump’s pine trees burns symbolically in protest.
This funding is mandatory in accordance with the law on the protection of human trafficking victims (TVPRA), which requires the government to secure legal representation for children, “to the greatest possible extent”.
The organizations that provide them with legal support are ready to continue their work as soon as they are allowed. At the same time, they complain that the interruption of their services has enhanced the vulnerability of children and their exploitation by savvy.
