Mexico's AHMSA legal case persists as court delays auction and former owner Ancira faces renewed charges

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the criminal proceeding against former Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA) owner Alonso Ancira remains open after he failed to make the deferred payments to Pemex required under the Agronitrogenados damage‑reparation agreement. Ancira, who was granted conditional freedom in 2021 after pledging to repay $216 million, stopped the scheduled deposits, prompting the Federal Attorney General's Office to reactivate the case. Authorities say Ancira has been located in Texas, USA.

At the same time, the bankruptcy process for AHMSA continues to stall. The deadline for the syndic to submit the auction’s technical bases was missed, leaving thousands of families in Coahuila without certainty about the steel mill’s future. Union leader Ismael Leija Escalante urged federal officials to issue an immediate resolution so the auction can proceed, revive the regional economy, and settle labor and supplier claims. A judicial decision is expected in the coming days, with interested investors awaiting the final auction documents.