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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§277d–17 Chamizal Boundary Settlement; Investigations Relating to River Channel; Acquisition of Lands; Relocation of Facilities

Title 22 › Chapter 7— INTERNATIONAL BUREAUS, CONGRESSES, ETC. › Subchapter IV— INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION › § 277d–17

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of State, through the U.S. Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, to do technical work under the U.S.–Mexico Chamizal convention signed August 29, 1963 on boundary and river matters. The Commissioner can get land by donation, purchase, or condemnation to transfer to Mexico, build the U.S. part of the new channel and levee, or move public roads, rail lines, utilities, and bridges. The Commissioner may carry out or contract the relocations and transfer or swap properties, or grant temporary or permanent easements in lands acquired under sections 277d–17 to 277d–25 or the convention.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §277d–17

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In connection with the convention between the United States of America and the United Mexican States for the solution of the problem of the Chamizal, signed August 29, 1963, the Secretary of State, acting through the United States Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, is authorized— a. to conduct technical and other investigations relating to: the demarcation or monumentation of the boundary between the United States and Mexico; flood control; water resources; sanitation and prevention of pollution; channel relocation, improvement, and stabilization; and other matters related to the new river channel. b. to acquire by donation, purchase, or condemnation, all lands required— (1) for transfer to Mexico as provided in said convention; (2) for construction of that portion of the new river channel and the adjoining levee in the territory of the United States; (3) for relocation of highways, roadways, railroads, telegraph, telephone, electric transmission lines, bridges, related facilities, and any publicly owned structure or facility, the relocation of which, in the judgment of the said Commissioner, is necessitated by the project. c. For the purpose of effecting said relocations— (1) to perform any or all work involved in said relocations; (2) to enter into contracts with the owners of properties to be relocated whereby they undertake to acquire any or all properties needed for said relocations, or undertake to perform any or all work involved in said relocations; (3) to convey or exchange properties acquired or improved by the United States under sections 277d–17 to 277d–25 of this title or under said convention, with or without improvements, or to grant term or perpetual easements therein or thereover.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of part of section 1 of Pub. L. 88–300. Remainder of section 1 is set out as a

Short Title

note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 88–300, § 1, Apr. 29, 1964, 78 Stat. 184, provided in part: “That this Act [enacting this section and sections 277d–18 to 277d–25 of this title] may be cited as the ‘American-Mexican Chamizal Convention Act of 1964’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 277d–17

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60