Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced a new strategy to combat the illegal seizure of housing through increased penalties and a specialized cabinet [1, 2].
The initiative targets the crime of despojo, which creates legal instability for hundreds of families in the capital and undermines property rights [1, 2].
Brugada presented a decálogo of actions designed to prevent the theft of homes and streamline the recovery of properties [1, 2]. As part of these measures, the administration proposed a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison for those convicted of despojo [1].
To increase efficiency, the city government promised to attend to despojo complaints within three minutes [6]. Furthermore, the administration aims for the possible restitution of properties within 15 days [6].
These measures follow an analysis of reported cases. The city has received more than 1,000 complaints regarding property seizures [1]. Of these, 388 cases were specifically identified as despojo [1]. The administration noted that 317 actions successfully prevented the illegal seizure of properties [1].
Despite these efforts, the incidence of the crime has remained stable over the last 10 years [1]. Brugada said the specialized cabinet and the new legal frameworks are necessary to break this trend and provide security to homeowners [1, 2].
The plan, which was first announced in June 2024, focuses on regularization and the implementation of shorter legal deadlines to ensure that victims can reclaim their homes more quickly than under previous judicial processes [2, 6].
“The administration proposed a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison for those convicted of despojo.”
The shift toward rapid-response complaint handling and significantly harsher sentencing suggests a move toward a 'zero tolerance' policy for property crimes in Mexico City. By targeting the duration of restitution—reducing it to a 15-day window—the city is attempting to remove the primary incentive for illegal seizures: the lengthy legal vacuum that often allows squatters to establish a presence before the state intervenes.
