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Volunteers in Mankato prepare for Old Town Day of the Dead, where more than 15,000 people are expected to celebrate. They hang colorful paper flags and line the streets with large vibrant traditional Mexican folk art. There’s mariachi music, Mexican wrestling, vendors selling 

–marigolds–and community altars where people can bring 

Luis Alberto Orozco, 27, of Mankato, serves as this year’s emcee. He loves everything about El Día de los Muertos, having celebrated the holiday since he was a kid from Michoacán, Mexico. 

“I love thinking about when I’m in this event, is how I felt as a kid in Mexico during this season,” Orozco said. “When the skies would get clear, and we were able to see all the stars in the sky, and that was sort of a sign that our ancestors were looking over us during this time.”

a five-string small round-backed instrument—and sings in a mariachi band with his father. This time of year brings all kinds of joy. 

“This is a party for our ancestors,” Orozco said. “Just seeing the joy in all the families as they’re celebrating is why I love doing what I do.”

He and a group of volunteers help plan this festival every year. But Orozco says this year, “it’s felt more heavy and more scary throughout the planning months.” He added that the national discourse surrounding the federal crackdown on immigration has led to hard conversations with loved ones. 

“I know close family friends, they have legal status, but they’re still very worried about even just filling up their gas tank after work just because you never know,” Orozco said. “I am scared because you never know what can happen.” 

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem paid a visit to Minnesota

 on Friday to highlight the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. But anti-immigration rhetoric and harassment has cast a pall over the state as Latinos make plans to celebrate their culture and family heritage with El Dia de los Muertos festivities. 

This fear is palpable for many immigrant communities statewide, as many fear drawing attention to themselves. Ryan Perez, organizing director for Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action, or COPAL, based in Minneapolis, says while deportation fears are nothing new, the angst now has intensified. 

“The threat of ‘We’re going to deploy the National Guard,’ ‘We’re going to use force,’ that is something that is really extreme,” Perez said. “We’ve seen the video of ICE agents, how aggressive they’re getting in pushing people down to the ground, slamming their faces against cement. A lot of folks have said that that’s a significant escalation in many communities than what was happening before.”

Perez says COPAL MN has heard cases of self-deportations to high profile ICE detentions. Many immigrants—and even second and third generation U.S. born citizens—are trying to keep a lower profile because of harassment. Perez said the impact of that is significant. 

“We’ve heard of so many small businesses sharing with us that foot traffic is down, visits are down to restaurants, visits are down to the grocery store, and it’s been impacting school districts,” Perez said. “We’ve heard a lot of families saying [who] are not sending their kids to school. They’re afraid that the kid will come home and Mom and Dad won’t be there, and that’s a really scary reality.”

It’s not exactly clear yet how much this is costing Minnesota’s businesses, especially those that primarily serve Latinos, but immigrants do make significant contributions to the fabric of the state’s economy and communities. 

And Perez says instead of letting the fear overwhelm and push people into hiding, he said that it's important to keep showing up and give people agency. 

“My belief is fully that we need to stay present,” he said. “We need to stay visible, and that’s the power of our community.”

That’s why events like Old Town Day of the Dead in Mankato are important for Latinos embracing their identity and culture. Justin Ek, 35, of North Mankato, is co-founder of the event. He remembers how much the event grew from its humble beginnings in his family’s painting business parking lot, to now spanning multiple blocks. 

Ek says he hopes that it inspires younger generations that they do belong. 

“For our community to reflect that identity is a huge message to communities around Minnesota that Mankato is a safe place for people to come and enjoy culture,” he said. “It reflects the youth that are in our community ... to inspire hope and that you can see yourself culturally reflected in prominent things within your community.” 

This year’s celebrations are challenging given what people have been hearing. But, Elisa Chavez, 46, of Janesville, Minn. says she’s hoping others will come to the festival this weekend. 

“It’s a difficult time for our community, but we’re putting that aside,” Chavez said. “It’s a good time to get together and spend good time with family, do something different or something that we can relate to.” 

Luis Alberto Orozco said he’s seen how much the event evolved over the years. When he arrived in Mankato more than a decade ago as a Minnesota State University, Mankato student, he worried about finding connections. He says Old Town Day of the Dead builds relationships. 

“Not only did I get to see other leaders, but then all the people that came to the event themselves [are] like first-generation Latino, second-generation people,” Orozco said. “It’s grown so much that it really feels safe to be here for me as somebody that I can express my culture without feeling afraid.”

And for others, it’s also about bridging differences and finding common ground. Martha Croyle, 44, from the Mankato area, says she loves that she can share her customs with her children. Croyle said she hopes to share with others the purpose of El Dia de los Muertos. 

“We’re all here just to celebrate and have a good time,” Croyle said. “We want to enjoy this colorful culture that brings everybody together. Don't let yourself be overcome by fear. We're stronger together.”

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As Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Minnesota on Friday to highlight the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, Latinos across the state are moving forward with plans to celebrate their culture and family heritage with Dia de los Muertos celebrations this weekend.

ICE arrests, anti-immigrant sentiment cast pall over Minnesota’s Dia de los Muertos celebrations

A man in a suit stands surrounded by three tall statues.

Hannah Yang | MPR News

A woman in a pink sweatshirt sits next to decorations for Dia de los Muertos.

A man stands next to a light blue sculpture of a creature with red eyes.

A woman in a floral blue and red dress poses next to a tree covered in lights.

ICE arrests, anti-immigrant sentiment cast pall over Minnesota’s Dia de los Muertos celebrations

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