Worries about ICE raids prompt the cancellation of multicultural events in Pittsburgh.
What began as a joyful tradition is now dimmed by fear.
Pittsburgh’s International Parade, once a vibrant expression of the city’s multicultural heartbeat, has been canceled amid escalating concerns over immigration crackdowns.
The parade, launched in 2023 with hundreds of participants representing over 40 communities, was designed to unite neighbors through culture and sport.
This year, it will not march.
For longtime resident and naturalized citizen Andrés — who asked not to use his full name — the cancellation is both heartbreaking and necessary. “I love this country,” he said, “but I can’t risk being visible right now,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The city also canceled the Pittsburgh World Cup soccer tournament, citing safety concerns.
The tournament would have featured teams made up of players from Pittsburgh’s immigrant communities. Teams were supposed to play under the flags of their national origins.
Monica Ruiz of Casa San Jose, a Pittsburgh-area nonprofit serving immigrant communities, agrees. “People are afraid. ICE is here every day,” she said.
Casa San Jose has suspended most in-person gatherings and moved its offices for safety. Even its recent Fiesta Del Sol fundraiser required the use of metal detectors — a first.
Still, some semblance of hope remains. The World Square festival will proceed later this month.
