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Mexico's president has nominated a new consul general for Phoenix. The nominee previously led Mexico's consulates in El Paso and Nogales.

Nominee Roberto Rodriguez Hernandez has spent more than three decades in the Mexican foreign service, including the division that oversees the protection of Mexican's rights abroad. He would replace outgoing Consul General Victor Manuel Treviño Escudero.

Tensions have flared between Mexico and Arizona in recent years over the state's immigration law, SB 1070. Erik Lee at the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University said that's one reason the Phoenix consulate has key significance for U.S.-Mexico relations.

"In terms of trade it does not rank with the consulate generals in California and Texas, but in terms of the overall relationship it has a good amount of importance for the Mexican government, in terms of relations with Arizona in the past few years that have been fairly rocky," Lee said.

Rodriguez Hernandez's nomination still has to be confirmed by the Mexican Senate.