music, carnival rides and more are kicking off today at Fiesta Del Sol event in Pilsen, the annual Latino Cultural celebration draws over a million people.

But as the fun starts, the festival's organizers worry that federal immigration agents could target the area.

Organizers say they want ice to stay away and are preparing to protect community members.

Joining us with more are Alderman Byron, Lopez of the 25th Ward, which includes Pilsen.

Ortega, the festival's co-chair and Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to all 3 of you for joining us.

Alderman Bar and secure Lopez.

Let's start with you, please.

What are some of the fears some of the concerns going into this event?

>> as we in Carmel Park federal agents arrived the Puerto Charles Arts Center.

You know the fear, the terror that when when people don't feel safe, according to public spaces for this year are being snatched.

My for ages a few that is across the country.

And you know, think that is good to see how the ACLU and other civil rights organizations already filed.

Also expect many of them are going to be successful because this unconstitutional to provide a lot justice kidnap people without due process without warrant or does it want what we are here Chicago protecting is the right.

lot people to a facility is being reviewed for 50 years.

We're proud to celebrate largest U.S. first of all, and will west Latino festival.

And we will make sure that we we protected or procedures with the final families.

And I make sure that there's always the process is not cooperation with things.

He quit and the federal agents.

so we invited people to calm the fears real, but also we are prepared to make sure that people can safely enjoy these beautiful >> Solely or take what makes this year's preparations different from previous years.

>> Well, the one thing that we're really trying to focus on is obviously like I say, is public safety.

I mean, we are trying to avoid at all costs to have any type miscommunication, any fear, any panic happening amongst goers?

And so we've created protocols in a house with the mayor's office with local leaders.

organizers just be able have the best practice and how so we do have attorneys on hand just in case anything does happen.

And we have communicated to have protocols with the Chicago Police Department that are actually here at the event.

Just make sure that we prevent any type cancer, any type of panic within the crowds.

>> Jennifer, the Little Village Chamber of Commerce has been supporting the preparations.

Of course, how should community organizations respond when there are fears about ICE targeting large events like this one?

>> I think it's important to work together as community.

Community organizations are the heartbeat of our communities and working together, sharing ideas, supporting each other and really making sure that we're spreading the know your rights information that we have been working on.

I'm Sharon since the beginning of the year is is very important.

>> Alderman, how have you been working with the festival's organizers to address the concerns from the community?

>> Did you like Jennifer said, you know, greener communities together protect their families, defend.

All right.

is the mother of the festival with neighbors committee counsel, and that the officials, many organizations and we kick not only the reception but a presser informing residents making sure that people know that we are here in the city that are proud to be.

You're welcome.

In Century City, making sure that we, mentioned, we have organizations sharing information, water rights on making sure that we have protocols with legal support, remote communities together making sure that people understand.

I know that festivals should not be a reasonable, pair of tiny.

But quite the contrary, I wasn't percent or a comb.

if I didn't become a Senate race will be working very closely.

little age with eyes are too many other legal organizations.

Organizers that will be on the ground weed out the mayor, Mayor Johnson and the deputy mayor that this early on ensuring the CPD is there to protect the safety no way to collaborate.

I was I eyes or any federal agency and making sure they get the we by people.

They know that we We're confident that we will beautiful regions we can because we have worked together with local businesses with our community to guarantee the come to a lower open secrets.

Obviously it Leo, are there concerns that attendants might be lower this year because of ICE activity?

Fears?

>> We honestly feel that, you know, safety comes in numbers.

So we're really trying to advocate for more people to join me because we also have been how secure it went.

Private security as well, too.

So we're trying to make sure the public feel safe in our environment and we will try to do our best to try create that type of environment.

>> Jennifer, you've been going to this festival since you were a kid.

What does this festival mean to the people who attended to the businesses that surround it?

>> Yes, this festival is iconic in our community.

I remember going with my family since I was 2 or 3 years old in for the community.

It's something that they look forward to every year.

It's a place where you can celebrate culture, enjoying music.

Eat delicious food.

it's just a place to be in community really celebrated our culture.

>> Do you feel like that's something in a time like this when so many people might be fearful of celebrating and sharing their their culture and where they come from.

>> Definitely, it's very important to more than ever to celebrate our culture and to be proud and to have these spaces to to feel comfortable in to be ourselves.

It's an act of resistance to to hold, hold heads up high right now.

And that's exactly what we want to do it with the celebrations.

>> the Cinco de Mayo Parade was canceled earlier this year because of deportations.

Here's why is it important to keep the festival going despite those concerns?

>> Hilson Neighbors, Community Council along with the obvious.

And so that is we use day to me this festival to highlight some of the resources within our local community and were able to amplify that message to the rest of the residents to be able to get more information and housing immigration employment.

So we want the community come out to the could have access to all the resources that we have to offer.

>> Jennifer, what, what?

communities lose when events like this are canceled or if attendance should be lower.

>> These events usually bring a lot of economic flow and activity and prosperity to our communities.

And a lot of vendors rely on these type of events there.

The biggest events for their business throughout the year and losing these events diminishes the economic prosperity that our communities and a small businesses, especially lose the ability to to do business and in the community, but also culturally loosing these these big events keep our community from being able to partake in in fun activities and and to get to enjoy everything that our our neighborhoods offer.

>> Alderman, obviously I saw operations continue to remain a concern because especially after federal DS DHS agents, they showed up to the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and culture just days before the passed earlier this month.

What advice are you giving to people who are still worried and may not?

And whose main choose to not attend?

>> Well, just just know that hear that in the community you weekend sure that people that they are safe in these in beautiful festival iconic.

I think that we also, of encourage people warm.

Water rights case important that people are willing We also have worked very diligently as he Jennifer mention to make sure that we foster not only a safe environment, money from with people come being former and help spread the word.

for those who continue to be afraid, know that here that got what we're doing, everything we can to protect city.

We've been successful on the on the only thing, lawsuits challenging the withdrawal federal funds because center As I mentioned our most, what's challenging our Constitution on actions by just matching people without warrants.

And I and I feel very confident we're going to continue to win in court.

In the meantime, a thing is even with that, we know each that we have our back that we as a as a community.

We know that people I apologize.

I've got to interrupt.

actually we are fresh out of time.

I wish you all the best at so at the