In Seattle, the Fiestas Patrias festival once again brought together residents eager to celebrate the cultural heritage of Latin American countries. Marching bands, horseback riders, dance groups and owners of elaborately decorated classic cars made their way through the South Park neighborhood. For Daisy Benavides, a Mexican American, her daughter’s performance was an emotional reminder of her childhood and her family roots in the Mexican state of Durango.
The festival is organized by Sea Mar, a nonprofit network of community health centers founded by Latino activists. In addition to health care, the organization provides social and educational services, supports immigrants and helps preserve cultural traditions. Multiple venues make it possible to attract residents from different neighborhoods: the parade began in West Seattle, continued in South Park, and concerts and other performances were held at Seattle Center, a large and accessible location for a citywide celebration.
The program featured Mariachi Wenatchee, Estampas de Guatemala, Reales del Norte and other groups; King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda served as grand marshal. Many attendees, including 70-year-old Norma Zavala, have been coming to the festival for decades and value it as a place where different generations can meet and cultural traditions can be preserved.
This year, however, the celebrations took place amid intensified immigration raids and fears of deportation. Local residents reported the alleged detention of three people by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in West Seattle, about seven miles from where the parade began. Photos and reports circulated online, but ICE did not respond to requests for comment, and The Seattle Times was unable to independently confirm what happened.
That same day, activists held a demonstration against the actions of federal authorities and organized rapid-response groups. These groups include representatives of mutual-aid organizations, lawyers, social workers and volunteers. They report detentions, contact relatives, and arrange legal consultations, help with bail, interpretation, transportation and child care. Their authority is limited to civilian support: they cannot release detainees, overturn deportation decisions or conduct immigration arrests. Those powers belong to ICE, the federal agency that investigates violations of immigration law and initiates deportation proceedings.
Amid the pressure surrounding immigration, participants also spoke about the rising cost of living. According to an April report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Latino families faced inflation above the national average in 2026, partly because of high gasoline prices. These difficulties are also visible at the Benavides family boxing gym in Auburn: some children cannot afford equipment.
But for the parade’s young spectators, the main attractions remained the music, horses, dancers and cars with hydraulic suspensions that participants proudly displayed to the crowd.
Based on: As Seattle festival reveled in Latino culture, ICE swooped in nearby