day of dead immigration Minneapolis Chicago.

A member of an Aztec dance group holds incense during a commemoration of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) at El Colegio High School in Minneapolis on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto)

Joyful Day of the Dead commemorations rally US Latino communities despite immigration raid fears

Day of the Dead commemorations in early November are a crucial religious, family and community celebration for most Mexicans and many other Latin Americans. This year in the United States, they are taking on a special significance because of the increase in immigration enforcement raids and other actions targeting Latino communities. Some organizers had worried that fear of deportation would cast a pall on public celebrations. But participants turned out in droves in cities big and small, saying the rituals brought a much-needed sense of resilience and community pride.

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