Multiple U.S. cities are resuming public Día de los Muertos events following their cancellation last year due to concerns that immigration officers could detain undocumented residents. In Henderson, Kentucky, the 2025 gathering was called off after Latino community members informed organizers they would not be participating, as explained by county judge-executive Brad Schneider. This year, he noted, locals have expressed a desire for the festival to return. Julia, a 19-year-old using a pseudonym, intends to take part and help sell food alongside her parents. According to the Hendersonian, federal authorities arrested eight individuals in Henderson in July, including people from her church and one of her relatives. Her mother has recently secured permanent residency, while her father is still in the process of obtaining it. Long Beach, California, brought back its festival after it was not held in the previous year. In Worcester, Massachusetts, planners hosted more intimate private events in 2025 before shifting to a public gathering at a local park on October 24. Around 2,000 individuals showed up, according to Raquel Castro, who helped coordinate the event. Meanwhile, other areas like Asbury Park, New Jersey, and Fresno, California, decided not to hold their observances. In San Antonio, Texas, Planet K, a retail business, ended its yearly activity, referencing concerns about “ICE terrorism,” as described by those behind the event. The Deportation Data Project noted that ICE arrests and detentions went up during June and July. The agency did not reply to the Guardian’s inquiry about whether they intended to deploy personnel to Día de los Muertos activities. https://newsmanset.com/en/dia-de-los-muertos-celebrations-rise-from-the-dead-as-ice-arrests-continue-its-important-to-bring-joy-in-dark-times-30689
