Protesters blockade Tijuana airport, disrupt air travel for thousands

SAN DIEGO ( Border Report ) — Mexican officials have agreed to meet with residents of Tijuana’s Maclovio Rojas neighborhood who blocked roads leading to and from Tijuana’s international airport for 11 hours on Wednesday, affecting thousands of travelers who missed or were late for their flights.

The blockade also forced arriving passengers to walk with their suitcases for more than a mile because they were unable to take shuttles, taxis or ride-share vehicles from the airport.

Demonstrators said they took action because the state of Baja California and former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador have not provided titles to the land where their homes have been built.

Cassandra Hernández, a spokeswoman for the demonstrators, said the state and Lopez Obrador promised them ownership years ago.

She and others held up banners during the demonstration saying the government has not kept its promises, not just in terms of land ownership, but when it comes to building parks, schools and roadways.

“More than 4,000 residents are affected,” Hernández said.

Four months ago, the same residents blocked access to an oil refinery in Rosarito, about 25 miles south of Tijuana, and did not move for days.

That protest resulted in gasoline shortages and price hikes throughout the region.

It ended after Baja officials promised 400 titles would be granted quickly.

But demonstrators say the titles were not granted, prompting this week’s blockade at the airport.

During the blockade, many passengers complained they missed their flights or barely made their connections.

Others said they were forced to walk more than a mile with their suitcases until they reached taxi drivers who were gouging people to drive them to their final destination in the city.

Hernández said their intent was not to harm anyone and that they provided rides to hundreds of people during the demonstration.

“We’re still in this fight, we’re within our rights, we’re not trying to impact third parties, all we’re asking is that the titles be delivered as promised,” Hernández said.

She stated they ended their protest after officials in Mexico City agreed to meet with them later this week.

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