Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§177 Patents for lands in New Mexico held under color of title

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - HOMESTEADS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 177

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can give an official ownership title for up to 160 acres of public, non‑mineral land in New Mexico if a U.S. citizen, their ancestors, or grantors have honestly and peacefully treated the land as theirs for more than 20 years, claiming title, and have made valuable improvements or farmed part of it. The person must pay $1.25 per acre. If more than 160 acres were held, the Secretary picks which parts, up to 160 acres total, get the title. "Citizen" also includes corporations formed under U.S. or state law.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §177

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whenever it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior that a tract or tracts of public land, not known to be mineral, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some part thereof has been reduced to cultivation, the Secretary may, in his discretion, upon the payment of $1.25 per acre, cause a patent or patents to issue for such land to any such citizen: Provided, That where the area or areas so held by any such citizen is in excess of one hundred and sixty acres the Secretary may determine what particular subdivisions, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in the aggregate, to any such citizen may be patented under this section: Provided further, That the term “citizen” as used in this section shall be held to include a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any State or Territory thereof.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 177

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73