June 2024’s inaugural Brazil Fest filled the Agricultural Hall with food, dancing and laughter. But this year, the budding Island tradition is in limbo after being postponed for the second time this summer amid continued safety concerns about Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) returning to the Vineyard.

The event, originally scheduled for June 1, was first postponed in May after an ICE raid resulted in the arrests of about 40 people on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Brazil Fest was tentatively rescheduled for Oct. 12, but now, there is no new date on the horizon for the celebration.

The Building Bridges Coalition, which hosts the event, sent an email to its members and volunteers Monday stating that more than 10 per cent of the coalition’s mailing list gave input on whether the event should continue. Of those who participated, 60 per cent expressed the event should not continue, citing fears around attendee safety.

“We are hopeful to have Brazil Fest year two in the future,” the coalition’s email reads.

While some respondents expressed not wanting to let fear snuff out the celebration, many others were concerned that event branding could draw unwanted attention to the Island’s immigrant Brazilian community.

“It’s an unfortunate and disgusting sign of the times that we are fearful of celebrating the culture of our friends and neighbors of Brazilian descent,” one respondent wrote.

“I loved it but I believe it’s not safe,” another wrote.

ICE has cracked down on communities across Massachusetts this month after the Department of Homeland Security announced “Patriot 2.0” on September 6, a coordinated effort to detain and deport undocumented immigrants living in the commonwealth. The increased statewide activity has Islanders on edge, fearing that another raid could come in the near future.

Paula Reidbord, who both works for MV Mediation and is a member of the Building Bridges Coalition, said she’s seen this fear spread through the Island’s Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking communication channels firsthand. She emphasized that ICE activity has the potential to affect not only undocumented immigrants, but also people who are in the United States legally.

“It’s not about only whether or not you’re documented,” she said.

Ms. Reidbord believes the Island’s immigrant community is what makes it great and she said the Building Bridges Coalition is working on new ways to protect the Island’s Brazilian population.

The coalition remains committed to bringing Brazil Fest back when it’s safe to do so.

“[Immigrants] are what make our community the way it is: beautiful, colorful and happy,” Ms. Reidbord said. “We just hope that this will pass and people can carry on with their lives.”