Annual Salvadoran festival cancelled due to ICE concerns
Annual Salvadoran festival cancelled due to ICE concerns
The annual Salvadoreñisimo Festival in Montgomery County has been canceled due to concerns over potential ICE activity and attendee safety. Organizers say the decision was made to protect families amid growing fears within immigrant communities.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. - The largest Salvadoran event in the D.C. region has been canceled. The summer festival was set to be held in Montgomery County but organizers say they’re shutting it down due to concerns about possible raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Every summer in September, the grounds turn into a place where thousands of people in the Hispanic community enjoy food, music, games and so much more for the Salvadoreñisimo Festival.
The annual Salvadoran festival normally takes place at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds and this would've actually been the 20th anniversary. But it won’t go on as planned after the organizers decided to cancel to protect members of their community.
What they're saying:
County leaders and festival organizers say amid the current political climate, they’re afraid of potential ICE raids and believe attendance would be low due to fear within the community.
FOX 5 spoke with a Montgomery County resident from El Salvador who says every year, he looks forward to this festival that reminds him of home but he understands why it won't take place this year.
"I think it's a little trouble for a lot of people that hear that ICE is coming to take people and separate the families. I think that is not better for the Spanish guy or anything," Nelson Navarro said.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich says the Hispanic community—which makes up 22 percent of people in the county—should feel welcome and safe regardless of immigration status, and not afriad to go outside due to the latest policies set by the Trump administration.
"If he wants criminals we are more than happy to help him, but just to go into a crowd or pick people out of a car and look for your identity, has nothing to do with keeping us safer, that's just cruelty," Elrich said.
"It's a concern because the restaurants in this county need people to show up for work, the construction sites need people to show up for work. If ICE decides that these construction sites are perfect places to pick up people, you could shutter construction in MoCo. It's not good for the economy, it's just not good for anyone," he went on to say.
Big picture view:
County Executive Elrich also highlighted that he's not surprised organizers are making this decision a day after ice reports they made a record-breaking 2,300 arrests in one day.
It's also important to note that the D.C. region is home to the largest Salvadoran population in the United States—just to give you an idea of how big this festival is.
New statement:
Fredy Diaz, Executive Producer of Festival Salvadoreñisimo, provided a statement to FOX 5 Thursday night.
You can read it in full below.
In light of the current immigration climate and the growing concerns within the Salvadoran and broader immigrant community, the organizers of the Festival Salvadoreñisimo have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2025 event until 2026.
Our priority is the safety and well-being of our community. Holding a large public event at this time could unintentionally create an opportunity for immigration enforcement actions, and we refuse to put anyone at risk.
This decision comes after thoughtful consultation with community leaders and industry professionals, who echoed the need for a cautious and compassionate approach. Organizers hope that conditions will improve by 2026, allowing the festival to return in a safer, more welcoming environment for all.
Festival Salvadoreñisimo has served for 20 years as a celebration of Salvadoran heritage, culture, and unity. While this postponement is a disappointment, the commitment to the community remains as strong as ever.
We extend our gratitude to the public for their understanding and continued support during this difficult time.