SENATE MEMORIAL 75

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH NEW MEXICO AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DISPLACED LAND GRANT HEIRS FOR THE RETURN OF LAND GRANTS.

     WHEREAS, the history of federal implementation of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo has resulted in some land grant heirs being displaced or forced off their land and some land grant heirs being disenfranchised; that is, they still reside on their land grant but have been denied the benefits of title; and

     WHEREAS, in 2008, the New Mexico attorney general reviewed and responded to inequities in the legal conclusions and reasoning of the federal general accounting office 2004 report on land grants; and

     WHEREAS, current claims for land grant lands were made to President Barack Obama in a June 2009 letter expressing support for the return of land grants to displaced heirs; and

     WHEREAS, a meeting held on June 15, 2010 between the United States bureau of land management and land grant heirs was part of an initiative for heirs to regain legal title to land grant property;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the federal government be requested to begin negotiations with New Mexico and land grant boards of trustees and commissioners and the land grant council for the return of land grants to displaced and disenfranchised heirs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to President Barack Obama and the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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