Playas de Rosarito’s municipal oversight body suspended Welfare Secretary Juan José Rangel Trujillo on April 22 after confirming he did not meet the city’s three-year residency requirement for the position. The Sindicatura Procuradora, the municipal watchdog office responsible for internal accountability, found that Rangel Trujillo actually lives in the Otay neighborhood of Tijuana, roughly 20 miles north of Rosarito.
Investigators discovered that Rangel Trujillo’s voter ID lists a Tijuana address, not one in Playas de Rosarito. Under municipal law, the welfare secretary must have resided in the municipality for at least three years before taking office. The finding triggered his immediate removal from the post.
Case Referred to State Tribunal
Rangel Trujillo’s case has been referred to TEJA, Baja California’s Tribunal Estatal de Justicia Administrativa (State Administrative Justice Tribunal), for a final administrative sanction. The tribunal handles disputes involving public servants accused of violating their duties or eligibility requirements. The severity of any additional penalty will depend on the tribunal’s review.
The complaint that launched the investigation was filed by the local leader of Movimiento Ciudadano, a national political party. That party leader has said more investigations targeting other municipal officials who may not meet residency requirements are expected in the coming weeks.
Municipal Treasurer Also Under Investigation
Rangel Trujillo is not the only Rosarito official facing scrutiny. Municipal Treasurer Daniela Lizbeth Urias Barajas is the subject of a separate, ongoing investigation. She is accused of failing to meet a stricter five-year residency requirement attached to her position. No ruling has been issued in her case yet.
The dual investigations come during the term of Rosarito’s 10th Ayuntamiento, the current municipal government led by Mayor Rocío Adame. Playas de Rosarito, a coastal city of about 120,000 residents located roughly 15 miles south of the U.S. border, is home to a sizable expat and retiree community.
Residency requirements for municipal officials exist across Baja California to ensure that people running local government actually live in the communities they serve. Enforcement of these rules, however, has historically been inconsistent.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte on April 23, 2026.