Kelly Kong, Contributing Photograher

Unidad Latina en Acción hosted its 15th annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday at Bregamos Community Theater, followed by a parade through Fair Haven. 

The parade was dedicated to the 20 migrants who, according to NPR, have died in U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement’s custody in 2025. 

“Everybody’s afraid. There are a lot of issues convincing people to be on the streets,” John Lugo, the co-founder and community organizing director of ULA, said. “People should know that we’re here, we’re going to stay, and we’re not going to stop bringing the good stuff that we bring to the community of New Haven.”

Originating in pre-Columbian Mexico, Día de los Muertos celebrates and honors deceased loved ones by welcoming their spirits back for a brief reunion. Saturday’s festivities included face painting, Latin fare, music and dance, as well as a community “ofrenda” — an altar honoring departed friends and family members — dedicated to people who died in ICE custody.

According to ICE’s official website, “any death that occurs in ICE custody is a significant cause for concern. ICE prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of all aliens in its custody.” ICE also “employs a multilayered, interagency approach when a detained alien passes away in ICE custody,” the website reads.

In light of the federal government’s increased deportation efforts since President Donald Trump took office, Mayor Justin Elicker joined the hundred participants in the parade to demonstrate his support for the local immigrant community, he said.

“The Trump administration is very actively attacking the immigrant community, particularly residents that are undocumented,” Elicker said. “That is not reflective of New Haven’s values, and we’ve done a lot to fight back on that.”

State Senator Gary Winfield, who represents parts of New Haven and West Haven, said that it is especially important for elected officials to show up for their constituents in person this year. 

“A day of celebration, I think, is needed when you’re dealing with all of those terrible things,” Winfield said. “To have a period of time of celebration and release can go a long way towards helping people to continue fighting.”

Because immigrant communities are facing increased surveillance and the threat of deportation, Lugo said that ULA conducted heavier recruitment among American citizens and local politicians for the festival.  

“That way, we create some kind of safety net,” Lugo said. “It’s important for the community to see that we’re getting the support, and not everybody’s a Trump supporter.” 

Kay McAuliffe, a member of Connecticut Civil Liberties Defense Committee, showed up with fellow members of her organization, hoping to make the event feel larger in scale and less vulnerable, she said. 

“It’s a scary time to have a cultural celebration,” McAuliffe said. “We’ve lost community members, and we have to fight for the people who are still here and fight so that this doesn’t keep happening.”

During the parade, several attendees wore costumes and makeup to celebrate both the living and the dead. 

“I made my skirt with the things that are from myself, like you see the eagle? It’s my freedom,” attendee Antonia Agular said.

Agular has been participating in the parade for the past seven years since immigrating from Puebla, Mexico, she said. This year, she also embroidered spiders, scorpions, and dragon flies onto her dress. 

“They say when this dragon flies around it is because their spirits that are dead are around or an angel is present,” Agular said. “That’s why I carry them.”

Participants wore costumes not only to honor loved ones, but also to address their frustration with the Trump administration’s immigration policy. 

At the head of the parade, the leader of the crowd wore a dress with a long train embellished with flowers, skeletons and skulls. A poster extending from the top of her dress displayed, “Ni El Presidente Trump se salva de la MUERTE (Not even President Trump is safe from death).”

Briam Timko, a volunteer coordinator for ULA, said that every one of ULA’s public parades is also a protest. 

“We’re saying, ‘We’re here. We exist. We’re not going anywhere,’” he said. “Right now, honestly, being a migrant openly is more or less a protest in this country because they’ve criminalized it.”

More than 100 people marched in the parade starting from Blatchley Street up to Lombard Street, down to Woolsey Street and back to Bregamos Theater.