Article 27 of the Federal Constitution serves as the foundation for property rights in Mexico. Under Article 27, only Mexicans by birth or naturalization and Mexican corporations have the inherent right to acquire ownership of land. Even so, the state has the authority to grant foreigners the same right given to its citizens to acquire real property, but only if foreign purchasers agree not to invoke the protection of their governments in matters relating to real property. This condition, the so-called Calvo Clause—after Carlos Calvo, an Argentine jurist and diplomat—also stipulates that foreigners will automatically forfeit acquired property if they.
