WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 30, 2025) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) led a delegation of its 2025 Western Hemisphere McCain Global Leaders (MGLs) to Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, and Nogales, Arizona, for an in-depth look at factors fueling migration, upholding the human rights of migrants, border security, and immigration policy. Leaders met with public policy experts at ASU, elected officials, law enforcement, and journalists to gain a deeper understanding of what societal factors fuel immigration, U.S. policies related to migrants, how organizations and government agencies support migrants, as well as issues pertaining to border security and cooperation with the government of Mexico.
The pinnacle of the tour came in Nogales, where the delegation visited the U.S.-Mexico border and met with representatives from the Mexican Consulate to learn about the services offered to individuals newly arriving in the United States. Accompanied by consular officials, the leaders walked along the U.S. side of the border, observing the physical wall that divides the two nations which offered a firsthand look at a key crossing point.
“The McCain Global Leaders experience in Arizona reflects the essence of the program, which is bringing emerging leaders face to face with significant global challenges, in this case the challenges driving migration across the Western Hemisphere,” said Assistant Director of Global Leadership at the McCain Institute Scott Nemeth. “The visit to the U.S.-Mexico border offered a powerful firsthand perspective on the human realities behind migration, an experience that deepened participants’ understanding of how to uphold the dignity and rights of those on the move.”
While in Phoenix and Tucson, the MGLs met with a range of state and local officials, including the offices of Governor Katie Hobbs, Senator Mark Kelly, Chief Deputy Attorney General Dan Barr, Phoenix Councilwoman Anna Hernandez, Phoenix Councilman Jim Waring, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office to discuss migration from a legal and legislative standpoint. The delegation also connected with Aliento, an organization that empowers students and immigrant families through education and advocacy, as well as the Welcome to America Project, which helps refugees build new lives through community connections. Conversations with The Arizona Republic’s Race, Equity, and Opportunity Reporter Daniel Cox Gonzalez highlighted the vital role of the press in telling the stories behind migration.
The five participating MGLs, who are part of the 22 total members of the 2025 cohort, include Guatemala Ministry of the Interior Chief of Staff Adriana Cordón, United States Coast Guard Military Officer Lieutenant James Eggers, Fundación M&M CEO and Co-Founder Ana Mojica from Colombia, Regulatory Institute for Central and South America Representative Fabiola Zambrana Pardo from Bolivia, and Combined Arms Director of Government Affairs Mary Taylor from the United States.
“Seeing the realities of the border and the work being done across Arizona further highlighted the challenges within our immigration system,” said 2025 McCain Global Leader Mary Taylor. “The Arizona experience reminded me that true leadership means confronting that reality with both compassion and practicality.”
The delegation was also joined by Global Advisory Council Member and Former Special Envoy for Global Youth at the U.S. Department of State Abby Finkenauer and engaged with McCain Institute Board Member and former Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation Jeff Guldner, Global Advisory Council Members Kelvin Beachum of the Arizona Cardinals, and Arizona Board of Regents member and son of Senator John McCain, James McCain.
The MGLs also sat down with ASU Knowledge Enterprise’s Dr. Scott Barclay, ASU Transborder Studies Professor Lisa Magaña, and students from ASU’s Center for Latina/os, American Politics Research, and the School of Politics and Global Studies to learn how ASU is advancing global leadership in interdisciplinary research, discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship for societal benefit, and to prepare for their weeklong journey into the human rights of migrants.
Get updates on the 2025 Changemaker Tour by following the McCain Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky.
Learn more about the McCain Institute’s McCain Global Leaders Program HERE.