How Mexico's Amparo Law Lost its Way
Mexico's amparo law, designed to protect citizens from government overreach, is now a battleground between corporations and the state. A recent reform limits amparo's reach, sparking debate on human rights, business interests, and legal fairness.
Mexico's Amparo trial, a beacon of hope enshrined in the 1857 Constitution, was born to be a David against Goliath. Imagine a lone citizen, slingshot in hand, facing the mighty government. The Amparo was their weapon, a legal remedy to challenge the state's overreach and protect individual rights.
Fast-forward 160 years, and the slingshot seems to have found a new owner. Business groups, not ordinary citizens, are now the most frequent wielders of the Amparo, using it to shield their economic interests from government policies. This wasn't always the case. The Supreme Court, in a 2011 twist, expanded the Amparo's reach to encompass "collective and diffuse" rights, allowing civil society organizations to join the fray. This opened the door for environmental groups to challenge polluting projects, for instance.
