Asociación de Reclamantes vs. the United Mexican States: A Legacy of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Description:
The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Linda Fregoso discusses the Asociación de Reclamantes vs. The United Mexican States case with two of the lawyers, Robert Salazar and Jess Araujo, and one of the plaintiffs, Maria Aguirre Schultz, who are suing the Mexican government and seeking compensation for lands lost in the aftermath of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Fregoso and Salazar first discuss the background of the case. They explain that the treaty contained provisions that would protect Mexican-owned lands in U.S. territory after the Mexican American War, yet the treaty was repeatedly violated and most Mexicans lost their land. According to the treaty, Mexico could intervene on behalf of its citizens, but it chose not to do until the period after the Mexican Revolution. At that time, the government sought to use the land grant heirs' claim to leverage U.S.'s claims for compensation for U.S. owned business the Mexican government had expropriated. In the early 1940s, the governments signed a treaty that made each party responsible for compensating the claimants they represented. Although the U.S. government paid the U.S. business owners, Mexico never paid the land grant heirs. Aguirre Schultz then describes her family's unsuccessful efforts to receive compensation for the land they lost. After years of protests, several heirs grew tired of waiting and organized the Asociación de Reclamantes, which decided to sue the Mexican government in 1976. Salazar then discusses some of the controversial aspects of the case. He explains why the U.S. does have jurisdiction over Mexico, and Araujo discusses potential ways the debt can be paid. They also explain why the heirs cannot sue for the return of the land. Keywords: Archives, Asociacion de Reclamantes, Austin, Chicanos and the Mexican Government, Expropriations, International Laws, Jess J. Araujo, John Marshall, Jose Lopez Portillo, Judge Joyce Green, Land Grants, Lawsuits, Luis Echverria, Manuel Avila Camacho, Manuel de los Santos Coy, Maria Aguirre Schultz, Mexican American War, Mexican Land Grants, Mexican Revolution, Mexico , Nacogdoches, Robert Salazar, Supreme Court, Treaties, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, U.S. v. Perchaman. Broadcast date: 1982-05-08.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), Araujo, Jess (interviewee), Schultz, María Aguirre (interviewee), and Salazar, Robert (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
5/2/1982
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin
sound recordings, grabaciones sonoras, radio programs, programas de radio, and Audio
Extent:
25 minutes, 15 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Eminent domain, Derechos civiles, Civil rights, Land grants, Mexican Americans--Politics and government, Mexicano americanos--Política y gobierno, Concesión de tierras, and International law
Time Period Covered:
1980-1989 and 1970-1979
Place Name:
Austin (Tex.), Mexico, Nacogdoches (Tex.), and Texas