Hundreds of people attend Mexican Independence Day celebration in Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Hundreds of people attended the Mexican Independence Day celebration event organized by the Mexican Consulate in Yuma.

The event was held Tuesday night at the Yuma Civic Center.

Guests enjoyed traditional Mexican food, live music, and artwork from Indigenous artists from Sonora, who presented their work in the U.S. for the first time.

During the event, Campesinos Sin Frontera received the Ohtli Award, honoring their work alongside farming, working and migrant communities on both sides of the border, and Telemundo anchor Oswaldo Rivas was recognized as an Outstanding Mexican in the U.S.

"For all Mexicans on both sides of the border, this can be considered a binational celebration, because Mexicans living outside of Mexico have a special sensitivity to feeling this type of celebration as something of belonging," said Dulce María Valle Álvarez with the Mexican Consulate in Yuma.

According to the Consulate, applications for Mexican nationality have increased by 40%