As Latino and immigrant communities across Southern California – and the nation – continue to be impacted by ongoing federal immigration enforcement, they are also preparing to start celebrating a significant holiday of family and resilience, Día de los Muertos.
Day of the Dead is a holiday typically celebrated with colorful and lively parades and celebrations. But while a majority of cities and organizations seem to be going ahead with their plans, some have opted to skip their annual large-scale events this year to protect community members from any federal immigration raids that could possibly happen.
Día de los Muertos – or Day of the Dead – is a vibrant and culturally rich celebration that holds great importance for people in Mexico and Central America, and for many Latinos in the United States, to honor and commemorate the lives of the dead and to welcome the return of their spirits. The holiday is observed annually from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
This year’s holiday, though, has been somewhat overshadowed by the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who continue having a presence in several Southern California cities. Since June, federal immigration authorities have ramped up operations across the country to fulfill President Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
Administration officials say the operations have resulted in the arrest of many violent felons who have criminal convictions or pending charges, and the increased enforcement is necessary to make the nation safe. Immigration rights organizations and local officials, though, have said the raids have continued to target innocent working people, often based on profiling, including day laborers and car wash workers.
More than 59,000 people were in ICE custody nationwide as of this month, according to data from TRAC Reports.
The Department of Homeland Security, when asked, did not directly say whether ICE would target Dia de los Muertos celebration this week. But in a Monday, Oct. 27, statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused elected officials and the media of fearmongering.
“Under Secretary (Kristi) Noem, our brave law enforcement officers are delivering on President (Donald) Trump’s and the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make America safe,” McLaughlin said. “Those who are not here illegally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear. Elected officials and media choosing to fearmonger by distorting reality are doing a great disservice to our country and are responsible for the nearly 1,000% increase in assaults on ICE officers.”
But since this summer, out of caution, organizers have canceled multiple celebrations and events, most recently with Hispanic Heritage Month. But some events have remained — with much success. The East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival, for example, took place last month and was well attended.
And even though Downtown Los Angeles has been the backdrop for many ICE operations and protests condemning the Trump administration’s actions, it will still play host to several Dìa de los Muertos events.
Gloria Molina Grand Park, in fact, is still holding its annual Día de los Muertos celebration. The park’s free, weeklong celebration began on Saturday, Oct. 25, and will run through Sunday, Nov. 1, featuring altars, art, music and community gatherings.
L.A. park officials encouraged people to explore the 19 altars created by professional artists and local organizations, reflecting the diverse stories and cultures of Los Angeles. Curated by renowned artist Consuelo G. Flores, this year’s theme is “Let Freedom Ring: Honoring Our Immigrant Ancestors.”
“We made a decision to move forward with it because I think it’s important for us to still provide this free community programming, and hopefully people show up,” said Robert Gonzalez, director of Gloria Molina Grand Park. “This is, in my opinion, a form of resistance to what’s going on. We want to make sure that, yes, there are things going on in the city, county and in the country, but by still hosting these events, we’re pushing back to say, ‘You are not going to prevent us from still living our lives and enjoying what’s out there to offer to the community.’”
Since the event is in a public space, Gonzalez said, organizers will have security measures in place during the opening and closing celebrations to ensure people’s safety, but it’s not guaranteed. While no potential ICE raids are known of, park officials will be vigilant. But, he added, organizers will also rely on attendees to communicate with them if anything seems wrong.
“We are being cautious, but we’re not making any adjustments to how we usually do events,” Gonzalez said. “We’re definitely going to rely on the public, and we’re going to keep our ears to the streets to see if we hear anything as well.”
Every year, the altars on display resonate with people in different ways, Gonzalez said, and he hopes that this year is no different as people come out to celebrate the important holiday for Latino and immigrant communities together at Gloria Molina Grand Park.
“I just encourage people to explore all of the different altars that we have, because each one has a different message, and each one may resonate with you differently,” he said, “and that’s the beauty of it, right?”
Celebrations and events will also continue in the Inland Empire. Leaders and event organizers, though, have considered Latino residents’ fears when planning events. The Moreno Valley City Council, for example, pondered canceling city-sponsored events popular with Latinos, such as its Mexican Independence Day celebration, but decided to move forward. In Riverside, its Day of the Dead celebration will move forward as well.
In Santa Ana, the Día de los Muertos Magic of the Altars event at Roosevelt-Walker Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 1, will have art making, face painting, interactive activities and more. City officials said that it will be an opportunity for residents to honor dead loved ones, share stories, create special themed crafts and connect with the community.
Read more: 10 ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Southern California
In the South Bay, Downey’s 12th Día de los Muertos Art Festival will take place on Sunday at the Downey Theatre. It will host numerous art exhibitions ranging from traditional to avant-garde, realistic to surrealistic. The festival is one of the city’s most popular and prestigious events, and city officials expect more than 25,000 attendees.
San Pedro’s annual Día de los Muertos festivities also took place on Sunday, Oct. 26, despite concerns about ICE being present. Earlier this month, ICE conducted multiple operations in San Pedro — arresting several people.
“While we must remain vigilant and look out for one another,” Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker said in a statement, “we cannot allow the unconstitutional and chaotic actions of the federal government to dampen our local spirit or our ability to come together as a community to celebrate such an important holiday.”
McOsker, whose 15th District is also set to have Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Wilmington and Harbor City on Saturday, said he requested extra security.
Día de los Muertos events, though, have been canceled by some cities and organizations throughout the High Desert. Victorville’s Family Assistance Program hosted a sold-out Día de los Muertos Gala last year, but the event was canceled this year because of concerns and fears about ICE showing up.
“Our community partners and planners were concerned that holding the event would draw the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, potentially resulting in a raid,” organizers told the Daily Press.
A notable cancellation in the Southland was Long Beach’s annual Día de los Muertos parade. City officials said they made the decision out of an “abundance of caution” related to community fears about possible federal immigration raids.
“This decision did not come lightly,” Councilmember Mary Zendejas, who represents the First District where the annual parade takes place, said in a statement last month, “and was a result of concerns related to activities in the region being conducted by federal law enforcement.”
Typically, the parade draws hundreds of visitors to a route along downtown’s Pine Avenue.
“We’re taking every step to protect and defend our residents,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Unfortunately, in this case, it means not moving forward with the Dia de los Muertos Parade this year.”
The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, however, did host its annual Día de los Muertos Festival on Sunday.
“This year’s theme is resilience,” said Alison Heney, vice president of learning and public programs at MOLAA. “We’re celebrating our community and the capacity to endure and overcome hardships.”
The festival featured folklorico and mariachi performances, live music, dancing, authentic Latin American food, local vendors, art workshops and more.
“MOLAA has been doing the Day of the Dead Festival for multiple years,” said Solimar Salas, deputy director of MOLAA. “It’s been an integral part of our cultural programming at MOLAA, and it’s something that is identified so much with the mission of the institution, not just in the artistic sense, but also in a cultural sense. For us, it was a key event that we needed to move forward with. We’re very excited to see the people who can attend.”
Local nonprofits and other institutions, such as Forest Lawn, are also moving forward with their annual Día de los Muertos celebrations. On Sunday, Nov. 2, Forest Lawn’s Cathedral City, Covina Hills, Cypress and Glendale locations will host community events to honor the memories of the dead and bridge connections with ancestors. Colorful altars, Catrina and alebrije (spirit guide) artwork, folklorico dance and mariachi performances, arts and crafts, face painting and more will be offered at each location.
“Forest Lawn’s lively and colorful Día de los Muertos events welcome the community to our memorial parks for an authentic Mexican celebration of life,” said Rodolfo Saenz, Forest Lawn’s senior vice president of marketing. “We look forward to coming together to honor the traditions and lives of the past and celebrating the vitality of the present.”
Centro CHA, a Long Beach nonprofit, will also host its own event for Long Beach residents on Saturday, with organizers saying it’s important to do so, especially after the city decided not to move forward with the parade. Organizers say it is an opportunity to celebrate a holiday that is important for the Latino and immigrant community — even during difficult times.
“We see firsthand how it’s affecting our community as a whole, and we understand that the threats are very present and imminent,” said Ariana Sahagun, community health justice manager at Centro CHA. “It’s understanding that a large-scale event may pose some threats for our community members, but we also want to ensure that we are still creating those spaces of support and hope for the community to continue being able to celebrate these traditions and ensure that we’re not being silenced.”
Centro CHA is anticipating hundreds of people to attend their event – invitations are being spread by word-of-mouth for community members’ safety – as organizers see it necessary for people to feel supported and celebrated.
“We understand it’s a real threat; it’s not something that we take lightly,” Sahagun said. “We know that the city did that to ensure we’re making good decisions for the community as a whole, but we still understand that we have to ensure that we’re still here.”
Donna Littlejohn and Allyson Vergara contributed to this report.