Mexicans in Washington, D.C., Celebrate Mexico's Independence Day Despite Fear of Immigration Policy

Written by: Isabella Gonzalez

Attendees dancing in celebration of Mexico's Independence Day (Isabella Gonzalez).

From the outside, it's just another bar in Washington, D.C. It's September 15th, late at night, and the streets are empty and quiet. But behind the heavy glass door at 1214 18th St., individuals are celebrating Mexico's Independence as if they were in their own country and not a mile from the White House.

Public Bar Live’s usual decor of football teams and American university banners is mixed with Mexican flags. Tonight, the bar lights are white, green, and red—the colors of the Mexican flag. The music the DJ plays isn't in English but in Spanish. “Mariachi,” “banda” and “corridos,” all Mexican types of music, are played at full volume. 

Mexicans, who show up despite their fear of the Trump administration’s aggressive roundup of immigrants, are dancing and drinking tequila and beer.

Unlike other years, there are only 60 attendees at the celebration, not 300, according to Alejandro González, the event's organizer and founder of the "Mexicanos in DC" Facebook group.

"It really affected us," said González of the administration’s roundups. “You will see that there will not be many people. Usually, even during a weekday, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, we have 200 to 300 people show up at this party," he said.

Public Bar Live's open dance floor, with significantly lower attendance than years prior (Isabella Gonzalez).

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Division uses "targeted, intelligence-driven operations" to enforce immigration laws. The agency states that it prioritizes the arrest of individuals who may pose a threat to national security or public safety or who are believed to undermine the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.

"A lot of the people say, 'I am afraid of coming to D.C., even if I have papers.' They are afraid because they are just taking people. Even if you have papers, they will take you and then later investigate," González added.

The 41-year-old decided to create the Facebook group and organize the annual party when he moved to the U.S. from Hidalgo, Mexico, on a work visa, as he felt lonely and wanted to honor Mexican traditions. 

"We've been celebrating for 15 years, whoever the president is," said González.

On Sept. 16, 1810, a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell in the town of Dolores, Mexico, to urge the people to rise against the Spanish colonial government. There, he delivered a passionate speech known as "El Grito," which is imitated by the president of Mexico every year on this date.

Screen displayed before the live broadcast of "El Grito" (Isabella Gonzalez).

Like González, Yetlanetzi Reyna, one of the partygoers, said it's important to preserve Mexican traditions by celebrating Mexico's Independence Day and by attending the live broadcast of "El Grito."

"It was something that I did growing up," said Reyna, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her parents are originally from Acapulco, Guerrero, in Mexico."It's very important to celebrate any multicultural heritage, especially in this city, in D.C. specifically. It's a point of pride in Mexican-Americans. I always say I'm Mexican first and American second," she added.

In D.C., Reyna found Mexican friends who became close like family, so she wouldn't miss her biological family, who still live in Indiana, as much. 

Alejandra Gonzalez, 29, originally from Orizaba, Veracruz, is one of her friends.

"I came to celebrate because I think I have always really loved where I'm from. I think being close to people who share my same culture always energizes me, makes me feel better, and especially given the times that we're living in, I think I need community a lot," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez came to live with her parents when she was five years old. She became a part of a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, designed to provide authorization to work and protection from deportation for immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. After years of living with uncertainty about her immigration status, she can't stop thinking about what undocumented Mexicans living in the U.S. must feel.

“There's a lot of looking over your shoulder, being very vigilant, being very aware of being in public. Going to school, going to church, going to work have now become very heavy for the community,” she added. 

Before ending the night, from the National Palace, the building from which the Mexican head of state governs, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo gave a wink to the audience. Among the “Long Lives!” she shouted, “¡Viva los héroes que nos dieron Patria!” and “¡Viva la Independencia de México!.” Sheinbaum also saluted Mexican migrants. 

"¡Vivan nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes!” she said from the balcony of Mexico 's government building. The main plaza of Mexico City, packed with thousands of people, shouted back, as did the Mexicans in D.C.