Police Evict Squatters From State-Owned Land in Mérida, Triggering 15-Hour Highway Blockade

Mérida, Yucatán — Residents in southern Mérida blocked the Periférico ring road at Avenida 86 for more than 15 hours to protest a state-government eviction of squatters from a property owned by the Yucatán State Housing Institute (IVEY) in San José Tecoh.

The eviction was carried out by officers from the state Public Security Department (SSP) and the State Prosecutor’s Office, acting on an investigation into the alleged illegal seizure of state property. Authorities said the operation followed a complaint filed by IVEY and included verifying state ownership of the land, identifying people and vehicles linked to the occupation, and conducting an on-site ministerial inspection.

Officials said investigators documented a steady increase in the number of people living irregularly on the property, the construction of new temporary homes, and a growing presence of vehicles. They also said they had received reports from neighbors about public order and security problems, as well as possible illegal electrical connections that were causing power fluctuations in the area.

Those removed from the property said they had submitted documents asking the state government to help them gain legal status. “I haven’t done anything wrong; we didn’t force our way in, we did things the right way,” one protester said. Another added: “We have submitted requests for housing or relocation so I can have a home for my family. I have a disabled son. I have turned in documents for my family, but they haven’t given us an answer.”

Demonstrators demanded a meeting with Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena to resolve their housing requests or be relocated. They briefly reopened the main lanes of the Periférico but kept a side lane closed, causing major traffic chaos. SSP officers arrived around 6 p.m. to maintain order, but the protesters refused to leave and stayed until Friday morning, when they withdrew on their own.

In a statement, the state government said human rights had been respected throughout the operation and that all actions followed established protocols. “The state government maintains its commitment to the rule of law, under the principle that in Yucatán no one is above the law,” the statement said. “The protection of public property, legal certainty, and the well-being of Yucatán families remain priorities.”