PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. NOW, ROBERTS ICE ARREST CAME JUST ONE DAY BEFORE THE START OF IOWA’S LATINO HERITAGE FESTIVAL. THE ANNUAL EVENT IS AT WESTERN GATEWAY PARK. THERE WERE QUESTIONS ON WHETHER IT WOULD BE CANCELED OR NOT DUE TO CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY. vlog BEAU BOWMAN SPOKE WITH ORGANIZERS ABOUT THEIR DECISION TO GO ON AS SCHEDULED. THE LATINO HERITAGE FESTIVAL KICKED OFF SATURDAY MORNING, SHOWCASING LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE WITH FOOD, DANCE AND MUSIC. AT THE SAME TIME, EDUCATE FOLKS ON WHAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY, OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. THE FESTIVAL COMES JUST ONE DAY AFTER A MAJOR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OPERATION ENDED, WITH AGENTS ARRESTING DMPS SUPERINTENDENT IAN ROBERTS. THE FESTIVAL’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOE GONZALEZ, TELLS vlog THEY NEVER CONSIDERED CANCELING THE EVENT, BUT THEY HAVE NOTICED A SENSE OF FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FEELING TODAY, BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IS PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS. OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE DO GET SCARED WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN. WE WANT TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WE WANT TO CELEBRATE AND SHOWCASE WHAT WE’RE ABOUT, GONZALEZ SAYS THEY HAVEN’T NOTICED A DECREASE IN ATTENDANCE, BUT KNOW THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE OPTING TO STAY HOME. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, SO IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE IT’S BEEN IMPACTED A WHOLE LOT, BUT WE KNOW IT HAS BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE FEARFUL. AND SO WHAT WE ASK IS, HEY, IF YOU’RE FEARFUL, WE RESPECT THAT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO COME AND ENJOY AND BE OUR ALLY TO SUPPORT, THEN COME DOWN IN DES MOINES. BEAU BOWMAN vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. ORGANIZERS WITH THE LATINO HERITAGE FESTIVAL ADDRESSED CONCERNS ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE. IN A POST, THEY SAID, QUOTE, OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A FRIENDLY, WELCOMING SPACE TO. CELEBRATE CULTURE, MUSIC, FOOD AND FAMILY. END QUOTE. THEY ALSO ADD
Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival continues with crowds showing up despite ICE concerns
The festival's executive director says he and other organizers have not noticed a decrease in attendance, but know there are some who are opting to stay home.
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Updated: 9:48 AM CDT Sep 28, 2025
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Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival in Des Moines went on without any problems for its first day Saturday, despite concerns stemming from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's agencies being spotted in Des Moines and eastern Iowa this week. The annual festival kicked off Saturday, showcasing Latin American culture with food, dance, music, and more. "We want to, at the same time, educate folks on what we contribute to our city, our state, and our country," said Joe Gonzalez, the Latino Heritage Festival's executive director. Day one of the festival began just one day after a major ICE operation ended with agents detaining Des Moines Public Schools' superintendent, Dr. Ian Roberts. Gonzalez tells vlog, he and his fellow organizers never considered canceling the festival. However, he says they have noticed a sense of fear in the community. "The feeling today, because of what happened yesterday, is people are nervous, obviously," said Gonzalez. "People get scared when things like that happen. We want to continue because we want to celebrate what we're about." Gonzalez says he and other organizers have not noticed a decrease in attendance, but know there are some who are opting to stay home. "We have a lot of people here, so it doesn't seem like it's been impacted a whole lot," said Gonzalez. "But we know it has because we have people that are fearful. What we ask is that if you're fearful — we respect that — but if you want to come and enjoy and be our ally to support, come down." The festivities begin on Sunday at 10 a.m. and go on until 6 p.m. » Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival in Des Moines went on without any problems for its first day Saturday, despite concerns stemming from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's agencies being spotted in Des Moines and eastern Iowa this week.
The annual festival kicked off Saturday, showcasing Latin American culture with food, dance, music, and more.
"We want to, at the same time, educate folks on what we contribute to our city, our state, and our country," said Joe Gonzalez, the Latino Heritage Festival's executive director.
Day one of the festival began just one day after a major ICE operation ended with agents detaining Des Moines Public Schools' superintendent, Dr. Ian Roberts.
Gonzalez tells vlog, he and his fellow organizers never considered canceling the festival. However, he says they have noticed a sense of fear in the community.
"The feeling today, because of what happened yesterday, is people are nervous, obviously," said Gonzalez. "People get scared when things like that happen. We want to continue because we want to celebrate what we're about."
Gonzalez says he and other organizers have not noticed a decrease in attendance, but know there are some who are opting to stay home.
"We have a lot of people here, so it doesn't seem like it's been impacted a whole lot," said Gonzalez. "But we know it has because we have people that are fearful. What we ask is that if you're fearful — we respect that — but if you want to come and enjoy and be our ally to support, come down."
The festivities begin on Sunday at 10 a.m. and go on until 6 p.m.
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