By Natalia Rodriguez | Cronkite News
PHOENIX – For the fifth consecutive year, the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix hosted a Mexican Independence Day celebration Sept. 16 at the Arizona State Capitol, bringing together politicians and community members to celebrate the historic date and the relationship between Arizona and Mexico.
While the celebration marks the 216th anniversary of the Grito de Independencia de Mexico — the call to independence proclaimed in 1810 – the event at the Capitol has grown beyond commemorating this day for many attendees and organizers.
“In addition to celebrating a very important date in Mexico’s history — the birth of the modern Mexican nation — here in Arizona it is also about celebrating and recognizing … the contributions of the Mexican and Mexican American communities throughout Arizona’s history,” said Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix Jorge Mendoza Yescas, speaking in Spanish. “They have helped shape what the state is today both domestically and internationally.”
It’s a celebration of culture and heritage, but it is also a reminder of how deeply Arizona’s history and economy are connected to Mexico and the Mexican American community, said Mónica S. Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“When you look at the economic output of Mexican Americans in Arizona, which is estimated to be about $97 billion, that is good news for both sides of the border,” Villalobos said. “So when we celebrate, there may be a slightly different meaning for each.”
In June, President Donald Trump said he was unsure if the United States would renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, despite Canada and Mexico announcing they wanted the agreement renewed. The statement from President Trump added to previous political tensions with Mexico under the administration.
Hosting the event at the state Capitol is of enormous significance as it is the center of Arizona’s political power, Mendoza Yescas said.
“It is important for people to come and know the place where decisions are made that ultimately affect our Mexican and Mexican American communities either positively or negatively,” he said.
Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said the event displayed how American and Mexican cultures share themes of liberty and freedom.
“We want to show that we’re good neighbors, it’s part of growing that relationship,” Petersen said. “It’s also connecting with the folks who have immigrated here from Mexico … It’s personal to me, my wife was born in Mexico, so obviously, I’m a big fan of Mexico and our relationship with Mexico, so it’s great to have that positive relationship.”
The small businesses, performers and community members that attend this event are what make it what it is, said Vanessa Nielsen, communications and marketing director for the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
Eva Téllez, a vendor at the event selling light up wands, balloons and flags, has attended these celebrations for the past five years. She said the event honors a special day for Mexicans where they can all feel connected and leave with a heart full of joy.
“It reminds us of where we come from, our Mexico, and that we don’t need to forget it,” Téllez said in Spanish. “We feel connected above all to Mexico even though we are not there.”
Téllez said the event was not as full as she had seen it in years prior, but that it was fuller than last year when people were afraid to gather due to heightened immigration enforcement.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, at a press conference prior to the celebration, emphasized the importance of the relationship between Arizona and Mexico and the economic impact that Arizona and Mexico have on each other.
“This is such an important celebration, and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” Hobbs said. “Our friendship with Mexico is so important, and you can see Mexican influence all over Arizona. It’s a part of who we are.”
Hobbs said she takes pride in her administration’s micro business loans for Latino business owners dealing with rising costs.
Supporting Hispanic-owned businesses “isn’t charity or social policy here in Arizona,” said Villalobos, of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“It really is an economic development strategy. You have Hispanic businesses growing two to three times faster than other businesses, and contributing quite a bit to the economy,” she said.
Mendoza Yescas said the history between Arizona and Mexico is reflected in economic activity. From 2024 to 2025, two-way trade between Arizona and Mexico increased by about 40%, from $20.5 billion to $28.6 billion, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority.
He said he can see Arizona having the same level of trade with Mexico that California does in about five or six years. He credits the growth of this economic relationship to the bonds that have been built over many years and many delegations of legislators and governors.
Regardless of political party, Arizona officials understand how crucial maintaining a friendship with Mexico is for the present but also the future, Nielsen said.
“Our supply chains, our ability to create jobs, our workforce development initiatives, they all depend on strengthening and maintaining the relationship we have with Mexico,” she said. “So that transcends political parties for sure.”
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
