Judge Halts Progreso Port Dredging Over Environmental Risk

Progreso, Yucatán — A federal judge has ordered the immediate suspension of dredging and land reclamation work covering more than 80 hectares in the Port of Progreso. The ruling was issued through the amparo lawsuit 1919/2025, which was filed by environmental defenders.

The Collegiate Court in Matters of Labor and Administrative Affairs of the Fourteenth Circuit granted the provisional suspension after reviewing the case documents. The court declared the challenged acts FOUNDED and CONCEDED THE PROVISIONAL SUSPENSION, ordering an immediate stop to the work.

The lawsuit was promoted by lawyers Juan Andrés Medina Rejón and José Alfredo Uicab Panti, who cited environmental damage, destruction of the marine floor, and coastal erosion as the basis for their legal action.

The federal authority also ordered the notification of the defendant parties, as well as the Administration of the National Port System, Progreso, Variable Capital Anonymous Society (Asipona, Progreso), to monitor compliance with the granted precautionary measure. A 24-hour deadline was set for the port authority to certify before the federal court that it has complied with the suspension order. This suspension will remain in effect until a resolution for a definitive suspension is issued.

A Key Step for Environmental Protection

“This suspension is a key step to protect the sea, coastal fishing, and the rights of coastal communities,” said lawyer Juan Medina Rejón, the legal representative for the lawsuit. “THE DREDGING CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL GUARANTEES, NOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION,” he stated.

Terms and Context of the Amparo

According to the legal challenge, the dredging and expansion of the Port of Progreso began without the corresponding permits and environmental impact studies. These missing studies included Environmental Impact Assessments (MIA) for the dredging, as well as bathymetric and morphological studies that would evidence alterations to the marine floor.

Communities from Progreso, Chicxulub, and Chelem, alongside environmental defenders, promoted the amparo lawsuit due to the lack of public consultation, the omission of scientific evaluation, and the cumulative impacts of the dredging. The lawsuit challenged acts by federal authorities, state authorities, and private companies executing the project without transparency or mitigation measures.

Court Cites Risk of Irreparable Damage

The Collegiate Court, citing the risk of irreparable environmental damage, ordered the precautionary measure to stop the attributed acts: “STOP IN AN IMMEDIATE MANNER THE DREDGING AND FILLING OF MORE THAN 80 HECTAREAS IN THE PORT OF PROGRESO.” The court notified the Administration of the National Port System Progreso (ASIPONA) to monitor and comply with the precautionary measure within a 24-hour period, under legal warning.

Lawyer Medina Rejón called upon citizens, the media, civil society, and independent organizations to monitor compliance with the suspension, demand transparency, and defend the right to a healthy environment.