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| El Paso-owned and proud |
Jul. 25 - Jul. 31
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The Lomas del Poleo battle heats up
By Jerry Pacheco |
Even good neighbors sometimes
pick at each other and
squabble. This seems to be the
case in the drama occurring
between Dona Ana County,
N.M., and the Mexican federal
government.
The controversy centers around Lomas
del Poleo, a piece of land located on the
northwestern edge of Juarez, close to Sunland
Park, and Santa Teresa, both in the
southernmost part of Dona Ana County.
The ownership and administration of this
tract of land has been in dispute for the past
several years. It pits several hundred poor
Mexicans who live on the land against
wealthy Mexican businessman Pedro
Zaragoza.
The occupants of Lomas del Poleo claim
they have a right to the land. Zaragoza
claims he has legal title and they are squatters.
Lately, the controversy has escalated
because of a planned development that
could make Lomas del Poleo very valuable.
The State of Chihuahua, in conjunction
with the City of Juarez, is planning to
extend the Rivereño Highway. It connects
the eastern and western Juarez at the northernmost
point of the city. The project would
extend this border highway west, all the
way to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. This
would essentially connect Santa Teresa to
the center of Juarez and to the heart of its
industrial base.
Zaragoza is accused of harassing the residents
of Lomas del Poleo to alienate them
from the land, so he can proceed with development
plans.
Residents have claimed that Zaragoza
has fenced the project, restricted access to
their homes, and used heavy-handed tactics
to scare them away. Zaragoza claims that as
the owner of the land, he has the legal right
to protect his interests.
Supporters of the residents presented
their case to the Dona Ana County Commission
in Las Cruces. Two commissioners
accepted an invitation to cross the border
and visit the disputed land and its residents.
In addition to publicly expressing
extreme concern about the feedback they
received from the residents and the conditions
they saw, both urged the Mexican government
to take action in Lomas del Poleo.
The Mexican Secretariat of Foreign
Relations (SRE), through the Mexican Consulate
in El Paso, filed a grievance against
Dona Ana Country and its Juvenile Detention
Center and County Prison in Las
Cruces.
The SRE is claiming that between March
2003, and May 2006, Mexican citizens at
these facilities were victims of an error in
administrative procedure that resulted in
them being searched in the nude while
being jailed.
The Mexican federal agency is urging
Mexicans who suffered this treatment to
collectively file a civil suit against Dona
Ana County in order to receive compensation
for the damages incurred.
According to the SRE, Mexicans incarcerated
on charges of violence, drugs or
illegal firearms are subject to a nude search
upon incarceration, and are not eligible for
the civil suit.
The SRE is offering free assistance to
eligible victims. They have until July 12 to
fill out the necessary forms.
Is it a coincidence that the SRE filed its
grievance – for incidents which allegedly
occurred as long as five years ago – only
two days after the Dona Ana commissioners
visited Lomas del Poleo and asked the
Mexican government to intervene?
Probably not. In conversations I have
had with friends and politicians in Mexico,
the visit by the two American politicians
and their call for action on behalf of the
Mexican government was considered to be
a breach of international protocol.
Based on a history of dealing with foreign
invasions, several by Americans, there
is hypersensitivity on behalf of Mexican
politicians against any appearance of the
U.S. meddling in Mexico’s internal affairs.
The action by Mexico’s SRE can be
interpreted as a swift response to actions
they perceive to be supported by a foreign
government, even a U.S county, which did
not officially sanction the visit by the two
commissioners.
With the layers of political intrigue,
profiteering, hidden interests, and behindthe-
scenes deals associated with Lomas del
Poleo, it is difficult for a foreigner to understand
what’s really going on.
In Mexico, it has not been uncommon
for ruthless businesspeople to find ways to
acquire properties, sometimes at the
expense of those living on the land.
On the other side of the coin, squatters
often have been used for political purposes,
either by competing business interests or
political parties.
The well-meaning Dona Ana commissioners
probably should have adhered to
the old adage that diplomacy is best left to
the diplomats experienced in international
matters.
But is the Mexican response really the
best way to deal with the situation? Many
Americans are already concerned and suspicious
of immigrants, both legal and illegal
from Mexico – particularly the ones in
U.S. jails.
The Mexican federal government,
which is interested in immigration reform
in the U.S., is probably not helping its case
with American politicians by calling for a
collective lawsuit against Dona Ana County.
It is normal for even the best of neighbors
to have disagreements. What makes
good neighbors is the interest in each
other’s welfare and the ability to communicate
respectfully to resolve disputes. Let’s
hope that our neighborly ways prevail to
resolve this latest spat.
Comments or questions about this story? E-mail news@elpasoinc.com
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