Mexico: Sit-in ongoing at Guadalajara airport June 10

Event

A sit-in protest by communal landowners (ejidatarios) resumed at Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) on Monday, June 10, after talks broke down with the government. Demonstrators have been protesting inside the airport and at the carpark in recent days to demand that the federal government pay the landowners full compensation for the land on which the airport was built. Negotiations between the protesters and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation broke down on Friday, June 7, prompting the landowners to resume the sit-in. As of Tuesday, June 11, airport operations are continuing as normal despite the protest. An escalation of the demonstrations is possible, along with associated disruptions to airport or flight operations and access to the airport.

Context

Landowners have held similar demonstrations in recent years to demand that the government provide fair compensation for the expropriated land. In 1951, the government expropriated 307 hectares (758 acres) of land for the airport. The protesters claim that government appraisers have intentionally undervalued the land but have said they are willing to negotiate a fair price.

Advice

Individuals traveling to or from GDL are advised to monitor developments to the situation and prepare for potential disruptions.