Pseudo-Mexicans

Sonorans were not the only people altering their nationality' to take advantage of opportunities along the border. Since Mexico prohibited foreigners from owning land in the proximity of the border, Mexican citizenship acquired new value. Foreigners developed several ways to circumvent the issue of citizenship. They entered into covert agreements with Mexican partners who functioned as presta nombres ("name lenders") for the foreigners investing in Mexico. When in 1830 Cyprien

Combier considered investing in Minas Prietas, a mining area east of Hermosillo, his partner, Jean (Juan) Camou offered to become a Mexican citizen in order to acquire title to the property.^[33] Those unwillingly to enter into such an arrangement opted to simply become Mexican citizens. Foreigners acquired Mexican citizenship in order to assume administrative posts and to participate in commercial ventures. In 1860 C. J. Smith, an American ship captain from San Francisco, requested Mexican citizenship in order to operate freely out of the port of Guaymas.^[34] Enrique Spence and Thomas Farell also sought citizenship in order to acquire title to several mines. German and British citizens frequently changed their nationality to benefit from commerce in Mexico.^[35]

Despite the opposition of some local officials, these "foreign Mexicans" secured land and even acquired government positions. Once obtaining title to mines, foreigners usually sought local government positions in order to protect their investments. The prefect of Guaymas, Wenceslao Martínez, complained that a German had become comisario at the Chiponeña mine. Despite the German's claim of Mexican citizenship, Martínez believed that the state should reserve government positions for only native-born Sonorans.^[36] Eager to attract foreign capital, state officials continued granting requests by foreigners.

By the late 1870s, the Mexican federal government expressed alarm at the number of foreigners changing their citizenship in the northwest. They viewed the Americans acquiring citizenship along the border, or "pseudomexicans," as one political figure labeled them, with growing concern. Their presence according to C. Treviño, a customs officer, made a mockery of Mexican citizenship and prevented legitimate residents from acquiring valuable lands.^[37] To remedy the growing problems, state officials were instructed to forward all citizenship requests to Mexico City for formal review. Although the process now required federal approval, the practice did not cease. To improve their economic standing, Americans continued to become Mexican citizens. Sonoran officials wrote glowing letters of recommendation to Mexico City to expedite these applications. Others simply requested and received special exemptions from the Mexican government in order to own acquire property in the "prohibited zone." Several influential businessmen, such as Luis Proto, Leon Horvilleur, and Arthur Roas, obtained special dispensation to own land along the border in what became Nogales and Agua Prieta.^[38]