Hugo Aguilar: Indigenous SCJN President Amid Land Dispute Backlash

Mexico City — Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, who will become the second Indigenous minister to preside over Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), faces opposition from Indigenous communities who accuse him of facilitating land dispossession through megaprojects under the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and silencing victims of harassment. “He does not represent us,” critics assert in interviews.

A Controversial Rise to Power

Aguilar’s campaign slogan, “It is time for Indigenous peoples to occupy important decision-making spaces in this country,” resonated with López Obrador’s Fourth Transformation (4T) movement. However, activists, civil organizations, and representatives from communities in Morelos, Oaxaca, and the Yucatán Peninsula express disillusionment with his trajectory.

While Aguilar previously worked as a citizen activist and Indigenous rights defender, his alignment with the government—first under former Oaxaca Governor Gabino Cué and later with López Obrador—led to accusations that he legitimized land dispossession through megaprojects like the Interoceanic Corridor and the Maya Train. As subdirector of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), alongside director Adelfo Regino, Aguilar allegedly facilitated fast-track consultations that critics claim were neither free nor informed.

Accusations of Bureaucratizing Dispossession

In Oaxaca, Joaquín Galván, a Mixe activist, acknowledged Aguilar’s legal brilliance but criticized his role in advancing state interests. “Most of his career has been spent operating for the state, particularly in imposing megaprojects like the Interoceanic Corridor,” Galván told Proceso.

Mario Quintero of the Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of the Isthmus in Defense of Land and Territory (APIIDTT) accused Aguilar of “bureaucratizing dispossession” through rushed consultations that coerced consent from communities. Meanwhile, Miguel Ángel Aguirre, regional coordinator of the National Committee for the Defense and Conservation of the Chimalapas, highlighted Aguilar’s unresolved moral debt to the Zoque people, who won a 2021 ruling to reclaim disputed territories from Chiapas.

Silencing Harassment Victims

Galván also accused Aguilar’s legal team at INPI of attempting to silence Sandra Domínguez, an activist who exposed sexual harassment chats involving INPI officials. According to Galván, Domínguez was offered a blank check in exchange for her silence—an offer she refused. Rolando Vázquez Pérez, the accused official, was later dismissed.

Indigenous Representation or Political Tool?

Sara López González of the Xpujil Regional Indigenous and Popular Council (CRIPX) in Campeche stated, “He is Indigenous, but he does not represent Indigenous peoples. He represents a political party (Morena), not the people.” Similar criticisms emerged from Quintana Roo, where Wilma Esquivel of the U Kúuchil K Ch'i'ibalo'on Community Center denounced the Maya Train consultations as illegitimate.

Ana, a land defender in the Yucatán Peninsula, argued that the 4T government exploits Indigenous identity for political gain. “Hugo’s appointment is not about fulfilling Indigenous demands. He has never taken a stand against the violations caused by megaprojects,” she said.

Judicial Election Under Scrutiny

Juan Carlos Flores Solís of the Peoples’ Front in Defense of Land and Water in Morelos, Puebla, and Tlaxcala (FPDTAMPT) dismissed the recent judicial election as a “sham” designed to benefit Morena. He warned that Aguilar’s presidency could lead to rulings that restrict Indigenous rights, particularly regarding megaprojects like the Huexca thermoelectric plant.

A Divided Legacy

While some, like Quintana Roo activist Quetzal Tzab, view Aguilar’s ascent as progress for Indigenous representation, others remain skeptical. Poet and Maya activist Pedro Uc Be of the Múuch' Xíinbal Assembly dismissed Aguilar as a political opportunist: “Our hope lies in our own communities, not in government promises.”

As Aguilar prepares to assume leadership of the SCJN, his tenure will be closely watched—both for its historic significance and its implications for Mexico’s Indigenous communities.