Exploring the Ownership of Land on the US-Mexico Border Near El Paso
The ownership of land on the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso is a complex issue involving federal, state, and private entities on both sides. This article delves into the details of land ownership on the Mexican side, providing an overview of the regions in and around El Paso.
The Federal and State Ownership Quandary
About the ownership of land on the Mexican side of the US-Mexico border near El Paso, it is predominantly a mix of federal, state, and private land holdings, similar to what is found on the U.S. side. However, when it comes to areas close to the riverbed, such as the coasts and waterways, and specifically in border areas, the land is often owned by the Mexican federal government.
Region South of El Paso’s West Side
Directly south of the riverbed in El Paso, the land is mostly federal property, as is common in Mexico when it comes to coasts and waterways, and border areas. This region includes several old established colonias (communities) of Ciudad Juarez, which are very close to the border. Even the downtown area of Ciudad Juarez comes right up to where the Downtown Bridge meets the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) in downtown El Paso.
Historical Land Disputes and Changes of Ownership
A significant piece of land known as the Chamizal lot, directly on the border, had a complicated history of ownership. In 1967, after a treaty between then-Presidents Kennedy and Lopez Mateos, the U.S. had to return this land to Mexico. Today, there's a park with museums and exhibits on both sides of the border that commemorate this event. Additionally, there is the University of Ciudad Juarez and a large red monument known as the Equis de la Mexicanidad.
The Contemporary Landscape
East of Chamizal, there is a large park that was once part of the Chamizal lot. To the south of the riverbed, the land is primarily agricultural, and new middle-class subdivisions, known as fraccionamientos, are being developed. A major freeway connects the Cordova Port of Entry near Chamizal with the Zaragoza Port of Entry, located in the Lower Valley or El Valle de Juarez on the Mexican side.
Further to the southeast on the U.S. side, the land is mostly agricultural with poverty-stricken trailer parks. On the Mexican side, there are more fields, often fallow due to a lack of water and drug-war-related issues, and numerous subdivisions and assembly plants leading up to another Port of Entry at Fabens/Guadalupe.
Further Southeast
Even further southeast on the U.S. side, the land transitions to mostly farming with increasingly desert areas. On the Mexican side, you'll find more fields, often fallow, and subdivisions. The area continues with manufacturing plants, and eventually, two additional small Ports of Entry at Tornillo and Fort Hancock Texas, and Praxedis G. Guerrero and El Porvenir on the Mexican side.
Near Praxedis G. Guerrero, there is the famous Mimbre Brecha, a desert dirt road that leads to Villa Ahumada, approximately 60 miles south. It is a great place for cactus watching and desert exploration, but it's also important to be aware of the presence of other people who may not be friendly here.
The border area between Fort Hancock and El Porvenir marks the end of the greater El Paso-Ciudad Juarez area. To fully cover the described area, one would need to travel about 50 miles on the road on either side of the border.
The ownership and local landscape on the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso offer a rich tapestry of historical, agricultural, and socio-economic factors that make this region unique and fascinating.