Usually, Diana Tate has her parents, two sisters and godmother cheering for her from the sidelines as she tackles the grueling Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
But this year, at Tate’s urging, they’re staying home.
With the Texas National Guard arriving in the city just days ahead of marathon weekend — after weeks of President Donald Trump’s continued immigration crackdown sweeping across the Chicago area — some local Latino running clubs and their members plan to take extra precautions to mitigate mounting dread that the heightened federal presence pervading the city will be felt from the 26.2-mile course.
Encouraging her family to avoid the uncertainty is just one of the ways that Tate, a lead ambassador for Latinas Run Chicago, is navigating the anxiety, the Little Village native told the Tribune over the phone Thursday night.
“I wouldn’t want to put that kind of pressure on them,” said Tate, 37.
Sunday marks the 47th running of Chicago’s own world major marathon. More than 53,000 runners are expected to descend on the city for the race, including thousands of international participants. But in the lead-up to race day — with the Trump administration’s local mass deportation mission ramping up, from federal officers patrolling downtown to using tear gas along city streets — questions have circulated online about what federal operations mean for the widely anticipated event.
“Do you think it’s safe around the marathon area?” one person asked on Reddit earlier this week. “If I am from out of the country, should I run with my passport in my pocket?” another user inquired.
Rumors have also circulated about expected U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at the race. Last week, the Chicago Park District took to social media to debunk one such rumor.
“At this time, the Park District has not received any information related to potential ICE activity nor has the District shared any guidance regarding potential ICE activity at the marathon with our staff,” a district spokesperson wrote an emailed statement to the Tribune Thursday.
Addressing security at Grant Park during the marathon, the spokesperson said organizers of large permitted events held on park property are required to work with and receive approvals from several city agencies, including police, fire and emergency management.
Race officials did not return multiple requests for comment.
In response to questions of whether federal immigration enforcement operations would impact the race, the Department of Homeland Security issued the following statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “Under Secretary (Kristi) Noem, our brave law enforcement officers are delivering on President Trump’s and the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens to make America safe.”
“Those who are not here illegally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear,” the statement continued. “Elected officials choosing to fearmonger by distorting reality are doing a great disservice to our country and are responsible for the nearly 1,000% increase in assaults on ICE officers.”
Asked for further comment regarding the marathon specifically, DHS referred back to McLaughlin’s statement.
Based in Pilsen, Venados Running Club is encouraging its members running in the marathon to use a buddy system for the race and to share their locations with friends and family, according to club leader and longtime member Enrique Rivera.
The club has also been urging members to turn their attention to community organizations, which are providing guidance on how to prepare for and respond to federal activity, Rivera said.
“(Ensuring) that everyone (finishes) safely is most important this year because it’s definitely on people’s minds,” he said.
For Latinas Run Chicago, a local chapter of an international group focused on Latinas in the sport, Tate has noticed federal operations imposing a steady weight on members. The chapter has about 25 participants running in Sunday’s marathon, Tate said, who have been with the club for five years now.
“It’s just one of those things where people haven’t realized how much it’s affecting our everyday lives,” she said.
As members trained for this year’s event, for instance, they seemed less keen on meeting up to train together, Tate said. It’s typical for the club to meet near Lake Michigan to run as a group, but members have opted to take their runs closer to home, where they feel safer, Tate said.
In recent weeks, around the time marathon participants typically start “tapering” their training with shorter runs, some members have opted to forgo the tail end of their training schedules in light of the increased ICE activity, Tate said.
That’s been the case for Diana Figueroa, who lately has only really gone to work and her Albany Park home.
“It’s been very heavy,” the 49-year-old said of the past few weeks. Running for 11 years now, Figueroa, who was born in Mexico but became a U.S. citizen in 2000, runs with a few different clubs around the city, including Latinas Run Chicago, she said.
For months, Figueroa has been looking forward to this year’s marathon. While she’s been doing the race since 2021, this is the first time her 23-year-old son is also in the field. Initially, they had planned to run separately. (“He’s faster,” Figueroa noted.)
But with everything going on, they’ll be running together instead.
“I told him, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry it’s your first marathon and you have to deal with this.’ But I (also) told him just let it be in the back of your head,” she said. “Hopefully, we don’t witness anything, we don’t see anything and we can really enjoy this 100%.”
Latinas Run Chicago has offered know-your-rights cards and training to members. And for race day, like Tate, some members are anticipating fewer supporters and family members in the cheer sections.
“I feel like there’s a lot of fear around congregating,” Tate said.
Tate is coming equipped with a phone case that can hold legal identification and is quieting her typical race attire, which includes a shirt, an armband and a headband featuring the Mexican flag.
For Sunday, she’s planning to wear all black — and only the headband.