SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce says it was a hard, but necessary decision to cancel the 3rd annual Latino Festival and Parade in Sioux Falls.

The news was announced 10 days before the festival was supposed to take place along 8th Street and the Levitt. The chamber says the decision comes after the rising anti-immigration sentiment across the country.

“We decided that we wouldn't want to bring our most vulnerable community out on display for anything negative to happen,” President Selene Zamorano told KELOLAND News.

Vice President Ivan Romero says the deciding factor in canceling the festival this year was the anti-immigration sentiment getting closer to home.

“Operation Prairie Thunder went into effect and it did have an ICE component to it and

See Full Page