Fears surrounding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have canceled yet another Santa Barbara tradition.
This time it is the 71 annual Milpas Street Holiday Parade, according to a Tuesday statement from the organizers, the Santa Barbara Eastside Society.
Despite the familiar star lights lining Milpas Street, a sign the holidays are right around the corner, the street will be devoid of the annual holiday parade going from De La Guerra Street down to Mason Street.
Santa Barbara Eastside Society leaders said the decision comes after weeks of hearing from families, parade participants, volunteers, local leaders and immigrant activists.
“Many have reminded us that although ICE raids may no longer dominate daily headlines, the threat to our Latino families documented or undocumented remains very real. The presence of immigration enforcement in our region, the fear it generates, and the uncertainty families continue to face are real, immediate, and deeply felt,” according to the statement sent by Santa Barbara Eastside Society, including board president Sebastian Aldana Jr.
The statement adds that moving forward with the parade dismisses the concerns of community members and “would contradict the very values that this parade was built upon.”
Local immigrant activist group 805UndocuFund reports Santa Barbara County is the second hardest-hit region in the nonprofit’s coverage area, with Santa Maria being the most targeted city for federal enforcement operations, according to executive director Primitiva Hernandez.
This adds yet another name to a growing list of canceled events due to fears of immigration raids in 2025.
In July, community members began to worry that Santa Barbara’s iconic Old Spanish Days Fiesta celebrations could become targets for ICE raids in the wake of the large raid at Glass House Farms near Carpinteria.
Consequently, the Fiesta Carnival de Los Niños was canceled at the Boys & Girls Club.
Some community organizations, including Santa Barbara City College, withdrew from a Fiesta parade, citing the same concerns about potential ICE activity.
And the fears only continued as community Día De Los Muertos celebrations neared.
In October, the Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art canceled its annual Calenda, a downtown procession filled with traditional music and dance.
The Santa Barbara Eastside Society is hopeful the Milpas Street parade can come back for the 2026 holiday season.
“As we look toward the future, we remain committed to rebuilding this celebration in a way that reflects the strength and resilience of our neighborhood,” the statement said.
For a list of other parades and holiday events in and around Santa Barbara, click here.