Amid stricter immigration policies at both the state and federal levels, the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is canceling its annual Latino Festival and Parade.
This comes after the Governor’s office entered local law enforcement and some state entities into partnerships with Immigration Customs Enforcement to help crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
“We have been very scared," said Selene Zamorano, CEO of the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, talking about the feedback she’s gotten from the state’s Hispanic community.
She said cancelling the 2025 Latino Festival and Parade, which has become what she called the “heart of the organization,” didn't come easily.
Under stricter immigration enforcement, threats of racial profiling and increased discrimination, Zamorano said the chamber considered how to celebrate safely, but a question hung in the air.
“Do we really feel like celebrating right now knowing that everyday more and more of us are being taken away, have been racial profiled, and do we really want to celebrate?” she said.
She pointed to state government entities entering 287(g) agreements with ICE under a Gov. Larry Rhoden-led initiative called Operation Prairie Thunder and federal policies.
Zamorano said while South Dakota is a very “calm” state, they can feel some of the changes. People in the Latino community call the chamber when pulled over on the road for interpretation assistance.
“I’m there, or I hear it, or I see it. Unfortunately, a lot of people do get profiled and it’s very sad. And a lot of people have said, ‘Hey, Operation: Prairie Thunder is more about drug busting and keeping our streets safe,'" Zamorano asked. "But at the same time, you know, it’s like, well the current administration also allows us to do ICE work, be out there and target the Latino community. So just because you don’t see it on national news doesn’t mean it’s not happening. And sadly, it is happening a lot more.”
Zamorano said legal immigrants in the community have questions for the Chamber of Commerce about their rights, how to get in contact with immigration attorneys, what to do when pulled over and more.
"It makes more sense to focus more of our volunteer time into finding those topics for them and to helping them navigate through this really difficult situation than to hosting a Latino festival and parade," Zamorano said.
She said while the festivities are cancelled, they’re still trying to do something to honor their community, culture and support Latino establishments. She said they’ve talked about holding a downtown Sioux Falls taco battle to support businesses.
