Mexico City residents secure permanent working group on property dispossession cases

Residents of Mexico City's Del Valle neighborhood have secured a commitment from the Attorney General's Office and the Secretary of Government to establish a permanent working group. This initiative aims to tackle the persistent issue of property dispossession and ensure ongoing attention to related investigations.

During a productive meeting, Alicia Camps, a representative for the neighborhood's Copaco, described the session as "long, but productive." She noted a clear willingness from both the Fiscalía (Attorney General's Office) and the Secretaría de Gobierno (Government Secretariat) to engage with the community's concerns. The agreement includes a follow-up meeting in one month to assess progress.

Arturo Santana, an attorney representing some residents, reported that over 100 new cases of alleged dispossession were documented at the meeting. He also mentioned that the Fiscalía has resolved around 300 such cases in the capital. However, Camps expressed skepticism about this number, stating it was based on the secretary's report and not independently verified by residents. The group also submitted information regarding a specific individual, Virginia, accused of dispossession, but authorities requested discretion due to the ongoing nature of the investigations.

Santana emphasized that authorities requested residents refrain from sharing investigative details due to confidentiality. Despite this, he assured that each case would receive individual attention. The Secretary of Government also pledged to increase surveillance in identified high-risk areas to prevent further incidents of dispossession.