Carlos Quinones (1917-1976)
Carlos Quinones and his wife, Alicia Quinones, purchased their Chamizal home in the Rio Linda Addition to the City of El Paso in 1949. There, they raised their five children in their family home at 1501 12th Street.
Born in El Paso, Quinones was the son of Mexican immigrants. A veteran of World War II, he would later make a living as a civilian electronic expert for the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss.
When condemnation and relocation proceedings began in Rio Linda as part of the Chamizal Treaty, Carlos and Alicia refused to sign a purchase contract conveying their property to the U.S. federal government. They had refused on the grounds that the government’s offer of $8,100 was far below the property’s fair-market-value. At the advise of their lawyers, the Quinones’ countered with $10,500. The federal government rejected this estimation.
In turn, a Declaration of Taking was filed with the Federal court on February 21, 1966. As part of that suit, Carlos and Alicia were among 21 others to contest the U.S. federal government’s offers on their Chamizal homes.
In July 1966, Carlos told an Associated Press reporter that he and his wife were fighting to the U.S. federal government for “What I think is right.” Notably, Carlos explained that loss of his home would be a financial blow to him and his family. Having only $800 left on their mortgage, they had not anticipated having to purchase a new home elsewhere and potentially take on more debt.
In the end, the U.S. Judge ruled that the government’s offer of $8,100 was sound. With no other recourse available to them, The Quinones family vacated their home on June 2, 1992.
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Tract Map & Description: D-93 Quinones Lot
This representation of the Quinones home gives us a sense of its size and layout, but perhaps more than anything it vacates this home of its lived reality.
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D-93: Quinones Corner Lot
This map of Rio Linda shows each property lot in the subdivision, including the Quinones Family home at D-93.