Fighting Injustice Of Mexican DGAC

In the last few days of December, 2016, a rumor, soon to be confirmed, stated that, due to an obscure interpretation of a Mexican law, all foreign aircraft must leave Mexico before January 1, Many aircraft owners and pilots cancelled their Christmas holidays, packed quickly and left the country. Those that were unable to do so because they were not warned in time, or were too far from the border, found their aircraft grounded in Mexico pending payments of fines up to 80,000 pesos (over $4,000 US)! Attempts to appeal this rash and unjust action, ordered by upper level bureaucrats in Mexico City, were futile and many pilots and their families were stranded until the fines were paid. Only a few pilots remain grounded having refused to pay a fine that is unjust and unlawful. Mexican attorneys that have been engaged by these pilots have determined that no law was broken and, in fact, Mexican authorities have refused to give any written statement to any of the fined pilots delineating what law was broken and what provision of the law determined the amount of the fine, the amount of which varied from airport to airport and airplane to airplane. At this time, I have initiated paperwork to mount a legal challenge to these illegal actions that adversely affected so many law abiding pilots that have always followed the rules presented to them when flying in Mexico. The initial challenge will be to request a federal injunction to prevent the authorities from detaining any aircraft and to suspend any pending fines subject to a legal review. This injunction Is bound to have repercussions and it is hoped that heads will roll! Ultimately, there is a possibility that fines paid could be refunded but that, unfortunately, is unlikely, but not impossible, as individual law suits would have to be filed for each case. I would like to raise as much as possible to mount this challenge and let the bureaucrats know that this kind of treatment will not be tolerated or accepted without a fight. Money raised will be used to cover legal fees only and not pay anyone's fines. Any funds not used will be put to exceptionally good use as follows... excess funds will be donated to the Stars and Stripes Foundation, a US 501C3 charitable organization, who will then match that donation, doubling the contribution to fund the Abriendo Corazones / Opening Hearts fund that pays the expenses and provides equipment for a surgical team from Omaha Children's Hospital to travel to Mexico and perform open heart surgeries and train pediatric cardiologists at Salvatierra Hospital in La Paz, BCS. Over 100 children have been saved by this team in Mexico already. Stars and Stripes has already donated $20,000 in matching funds this year so, please be generous knowing that your donation will be used in the cause of justice and to save children's lives!