Quintana Roo Border Dispute Reaches Final Stage at Mexico’s Supreme Court

Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo — The long-running border dispute between Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche has entered its decisive phase at Mexico’s Supreme Court (SCJN), after the evidentiary stage closed and a draft ruling is now being prepared, according to Carlos Fuentes, legal counsel for the Quintana Roo government.

Fuentes said the state has already submitted the briefs, evidence, arguments and legal reasoning that support its territorial position. The next step is for Justice María Estela Ríos González to complete the draft and for it to be scheduled for the court’s review.

“We are waiting for the ruling. We know the justice is already working on the draft. We hope it is made public and listed soon,” Fuentes said.

He added that once the document is known, Quintana Roo representatives will seek to present to the justices the arguments they believe give the state solid legal grounds in the dispute.

Fuentes noted that there is no specific legal deadline for the court to issue its ruling, because this is a constitutional case rather than the administrative or criminal matters for which set resolution periods exist. He acknowledged that no precise date can be given for the decision.

The Quintana Roo government expects the draft could be presented before the administration of Governor Mara Lezama comes to an end.