The head of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, surprised everyone this Saturday, August 15, 2026, with a strong message on his Twitter account: 'The impunity of squatters is over. We recovered a property that had been illegally occupied for 24 years. Law and order.' The post, made at 11:30 AM, marks a milestone in the policy of recovering public and private spaces carried out by his administration.
While no specific details were provided about the location of the property or the circumstances of the occupation, the announcement reflects concrete action against a problem that affects thousands of property owners in Argentina: the illegal occupation of real estate.
What is usurpation and who are the squatters?
Usurpation is a crime defined in the Argentine Penal Code (Article 181) that involves dispossessing another person of real estate through violence, deception, or abuse of trust. In colloquial language, those who commit this crime are known as squatters (or 'okupas' in Spanish), a term that originated from the squatter movement in Europe in the 1980s and has been associated in Argentina with the taking over of homes and land.
The case mentioned by Macri is notable for its duration: 24 years of illegal occupation. This means the property was occupied illegally for more than two decades, during which the original owners saw their right to property, guaranteed by the National Constitution, violated.
The 'law and order' policy of the Buenos Aires government
Macri's message is part of a broader strategy of his administration, which has prioritized legal security and defense of private property. Under the motto 'Law and order', the City government has carried out eviction operations in various points of the capital, seeking to respond to the complaints of neighbors and owners who denounce state inaction in the face of land takeovers.
This recovery not only represents a victory for the property owners, but also sends a clear signal to those who attempt to occupy properties through illegal means: impunity has an expiration date.
Reactions and expectations
The announcement generated a wide debate on social media. While some users celebrated the measure and asked for it to be extended to other cases, others demanded more information about the procedure and questioned the delay in resolution. So far, neither the City government nor Macri himself have provided further details about the operation.
The City administration expects this type of action to be repeated, in line with the campaign promises of the head of government. The recovery of illegally occupied properties is one of the most recurring demands of residents, especially in areas where land takeovers have multiplied in recent years.
For more information, you can check the official Jorge Macri Twitter account.