CHICAGO — Community members from the city’s West Side gathered at Riis Park on Sunday for the second annual Abuelita Hot Chocolate 5K Run/Walk, an event celebrating culture, unity, and mutual support.

The race, named after the Mexican hot chocolate brand, brought together residents from Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, and surrounding neighborhoods at a moment when many local businesses have been affected by recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during Operation Midway Blitz.

Belmont Cragin has a population of 72,198, 79.1% of whom are Latino. Hermosa’s population is 81.9% Latino. Families, workers, and business owners in both communities have felt the impact of stepped-up immigration enforcement in recent weeks.

Melissa Quintana, president and founder of the Hermosa Belmont Cragin Chamber of Commerce, said the event held particular meaning for those facing that pressure.

“Today, we are here to celebrate culture, and we are here to represent the people who do not have the privilege to walk around without risk. Every dollar you contributed is going back to support the small business community,” Quintana said.

According to an interview Quintana gave to WGN-TV, recent ICE activity has affected foot traffic and income for small businesses on the West Side. The race served not only as a show of support but also as a way to bring neighbors together.

Once participants crossed the finish line, they were greeted by a mariachi band, tamales, and hot chocolate, turning the event into a moment of relief and joy.

Diana Anerado, founder of Casita La Luna, a nonprofit that supports grieving families, attended the 5K with her team. Casita La Luna connects families with attorneys, community sponsors, and support networks, and has been working to assist residents who have lost work due to recent ICE raids.

“I grew up in this neighborhood, so I’m connected to everyone in every way,” Anerado said. “It's terrible what's happening right now, especially because it's our people living in this community. It’s affecting us emotionally and mentally.”

Casita La Luna provides support for families affected by the recent ICE raids, connecting them with immigration attorneys, community sponsors, and other resources. The organization has also been assisting residents who have lost work during the enforcement operations. 

“My hope and goal are to create a space that supports everyone in need. The community will tell me what they need, and Casita La Luna will be there to make sure we fulfill those needs,” Anerado said. 

Juan Ruiz, a Belmont Cragin resident who works in construction, participated in the 5K. He said crews that usually have around 10 workers are now down to two or three because many are afraid to show up. 

“When you’re supposed to be working, you should feel safe,” Ruiz said. 

Ruiz recalled witnessing ICE activity outside the Home Depot in his community, where he said agents were targeting Latino workers. He noticed a group of men in green suits and helmets chasing people as they returned to their cars. 

According to Ruiz, the race gave the community a chance to come together, raise their voices, and show solidarity with those impacted.

“I hope that next year we can make it bigger and louder so people know that Latinos are needed here and that we’re good people, not the bad people they say we are,” Ruiz said.

Chicago residents Karem of Logan Square and Theo of Edgewater, who did not want to provide their last names, also joined the 5K after reading a Block Club Chicago report about local businesses struggling in the wake of the raids.

“To see the community, at least in Logan Square, a lot of people aren’t going out because they’re afraid. There’s definitely less pedestrian activity in the neighborhood,” Karem said.

Theo said the event felt meaningful because it aligned with their values and supported immigrant families and small businesses affected by the enforcement actions.

“I work for a free legal services organization, and many of the clients I work with have been talking to me about it. That’s how I feel most connected to what’s happening. My parents also live in Logan and are involved in ICE watch efforts, so those are the two main ways I’ve been connected,” Karem said.

Hector Cervantes is a freelance writer based in Chicago who enjoys covering stories related to Latin culture, entertainment, and community.

Immigrant Class Action Update: From a LatinoJusticePRLDEF media release, “In a victory for immigrant rights, a federal jury today found Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office financially liable and responsible for violating the constitutional rights of hundreds of Long Islanders unlawfully detained on behalf of federal immigration authorities.”

“In a unanimous decision,” the release notes, “the jury awarded $112 million to the class of 674 people who were part of the 2017 lawsuit against Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department for unlawfully holding individuals in county jails after posting their bail or resolving their cases, for the sole purpose of facilitating the immigration enforcement authorities to take them into federal custody.”

Julio Ricardo Varela edited and published this edition of The Latino Newsletter.

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