Increased dispossession in Mexico City has been a growing concern over the past five years, with a 217.79% increase in investigation files opened for this crime between 2018 and 2023, according to data from the capital's Attorney General's Office. This institution has been combating individuals who invade properties using force. According to information obtained by Publimetro through transparency requests, dispossessions have steadily increased, especially in 2022 and 2023, with Tlalpan and Miguel Hidalgo being the most affected boroughs.
In this context, the Attorney General's Office for Environmental Crimes and Urban Protection reported that from 2018 to July 2024, a total of 3,304 investigation files for dispossession have been opened in Mexico City. One victim of these acts recounted that when he confronted the alleged perpetrator, the latter said that his father owed him money and that he was taking advantage of the situation.
The dispossessed individual noted that their property was taken by 'El Jairo', who, upon realizing that the house was empty, entered and seized it. Despite requesting help from local authorities, they could not intervene due to the presentation of a falsified sales contract by the criminal's lawyer. This abuse of municipal records and the complicity of former law enforcement agents has generated problems for residents in the eastern part of the metropolis.
The critical point of these types of dispossessions lies in the irregularities in the cadastral keys, used by invaders to access properties without immediate legal consequences. The affected person mentioned that, in their case, the lack of updating of the cadastral key of the property facilitated the dispossession, as the government erroneously absorbed its allocation. Despite the threats and intimidation received, the complainant continues to fight to recover their home, despite bureaucracy and lack of support from the authorities.
The affected individual shared that, after being dispossessed, he was forced to take his case to different instances, including the Chimalhuacán Attorney General's Office and the Municipal Cadastre, in an attempt to recover his property. The alleged criminal, who calls himself 'El Jairo', has been reported by neighbors in the area for his actions of illegal eviction in unoccupied properties in that municipality. Amid this problem, the affected person has preferred to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
