Immigration officers visit Puerto Rican museum amid lineup of Latino events
This article has been updated to include a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture employees reported on Tuesday that U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers visited the cultural center ahead of this weekend’s Barrio Arts Fest, sparking fears immigration agents plan to target undocumented festival-goers during the celebrations.
A group of 14 museum, state, and city officials said during a Wednesday news conference that DHS agents arrived without notice and refused multiple requests to present a warrant, badge or identification.
The federal officials were outside the museum for about two hours and did not provide a reason for their visit, according to a news release. However, museum employees reported hearing them discussing “a festival” and reported they discussed entry and exit points. The museum hosts numerous events that also include the Colombian Fest and Fiesta Boricua.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists plans to host a president’s reception on Thursday at the museum during this week’s conference.
Museum officials said during the news conference they’re encouraging residents to still attend and will take additional security measures to ensure the safety of its immigrant community. They plan to hire private security, fence off the north side of the park on North Avenue and Kedzie Avenue, and exercise the right to deny entry to the event. DHS often conducts their operations in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They don’t need a warrant to arrest a person — just reasonable suspicion — but they do need a warrant to enter private properties, such as the museum.
Billy Ocasio, the president of the NMPRAC, said at the news conference not to be intimidated. He added: “We’ve done this before and we will survive, and we will resist.”
The 25th annual Barrio Arts Fest will take place Saturday and Sunday. It celebrates art, culture and resilience. The festival includes family-friendly events, art workshops, salsa lessons and performances.
“I want to be clear,” said 26th Ward Alderperson Jessie Fuentes. “Arts, public goods in our community, have always been meant to be accessible to our families as opportunities to build community with one another, as opportunities for them to experience joy. Not to be terrorized, not to be filled with fear, and not to be intimidated by an agency like Homeland Security.”
Officers cannot use race, ethnicity or someone’s profession as the sole basis for an arrest. They can approach anyone in a public space and attempt to ask them questions.
The Latino Reporter reached out to ICE, but the agency did not respond to a request for comment. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a Wednesday evening email statement denied targeting the museum and said a Homeland Security Investigation task force held a “quick briefing” in the museum’s parking lot in relation to a narcotics investigation.
and DHS but has not received a response as of the publication of this story.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Illi., said federal agents identified themselves to one employee as DHS but refused to provide any form of identification. One DHS agent initially requested to use the bathroom and then agents walked the property, she said.
Fuentes said staff members asked them to leave, but “Homeland Security proceeded to tell staff members of this museum that they can be wherever they want, whenever they want and however they want.”
The visit comes after several reports of immigration detentions with no warrants, such as that of two Pilsen residents on June 2, one detained at his house and the other at the restaurant where they worked. In June, the Guardian reported immigration officials encouraged agents to get “creative” with arrests of undocumented residents.
Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” limits police cooperation with federal immigration authorities and ensures undocumented residents are not prosecuted solely because of their immigration status. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has repeatedly said that Chicago police will not work with ICE. He has also been critical of ICE’s immigration enforcement practices.
Humboldt Park, where the events are being held and adjacent to NMPRAC, is the only official Puerto Rican Cultural District in the United States and is known as the oldest Puerto Rican community in Chicago. Second to Mexicans, Puerto Ricans make up the largest Latino population in Chicago.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and all Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by birth.
“Puerto Ricans have a history of struggle and a history of solidarity,” said Rossana Rodriguez-Sánchez, Alderperson representing the 33rd Ward, who was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico. “We are going to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, with our siblings that are here because they needed to come here and now they have a whole life here.”
Event organizers and immigrant rights advocates urged residents to be prepared and know their rights.
Esme Montecinos, an organizer with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said during the news conference that residents have the the right to film police activity, remain silent and speak with an attorney. She also encouraged people to call the Family Support Hotline at (855) 435-7693 to report suspected ICE activity or family members taken by ICE. The organization also has online resources available that include media rights materials.
Susan A. Barnett is a recent University of Arizona graduate with a master’s degree in bilingual journalism. She is the co-founder of the Tucson Spotlight, and has been named a 2025–26 Chips Quinn Fellow. Reach her at susan [at] tucsonspotlight [dot] org or on Instagram @Susanitalareportera.
