Rockford events canceled as ICE activity in Illinois raises alarm among undocumented residents

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Rockford have led to the cancellation of several Hispanic-led events, including Fiestas Patrias.

Antonio Ramirez, a leader behind multiple Latino events in Rockford, made the difficult decision to cancel Fiestas Patrias due to safety concerns amid reports of ICE activity.

“It was a difficult decision because I love my community,” Ramirez said, expressing the challenges faced by event organizers.

During September, discussions about ICE officials in cities across the nation increased, causing concern among undocumented Rockford residents.

Elisa Villalobos, the vendor coordinator for Fiestas Patria, emphasized that safety is the top priority for the undocumented community.

“Do what you feel is safe for your family,” Villalobos advised, highlighting the importance of a secure environment for community events.

Ramirez and other local Latino leaders heard concerns firsthand, particularly about the safety of children and volunteers at events.

Ramirez encourages the younger generation to be prepared and educated to help their families and communities responsibly.

Rockford Urban Ministries is hosting a non-partisan event at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Sunday to support undocumented immigrants locally and across the state.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.