N.M. Stat. § 49-9-6
If no protest should be filed with the city clerk against the granting of said deed to any applicant, within the time and manner as above provided, or if the said protest should be filed and the party whose duty it is fails or neglects to institute his proceeding in the district court contesting the right of said applicant to said deed within the time as above provided, the said city council shall be authorized to make, execute and deliver a deed for the said land to the person who shall have first applied for said deed: and provided, further, that should any person make application for a deed to any portion of said land within the limits of said grant, and should said city council, upon investigation thereof, be not satisfied that the land for which such deed is applied for is in fact owned by said applicant, then said city council shall refuse to execute or cause to be executed a deed to said applicant for said land until the court shall determine, in a proceeding properly instituted therefor, that the city should execute said deed to said applicant; or in case any individual, company or corporation shall be in possession of or shall claim any part or portion of the land within the limits of said grant to which they or it may be not entitled as against said city holding said lands in trust as aforesaid, then the city council of said city shall direct the city attorney, or other attorney or attorneys, to institute on behalf of said city and said trustees a proper proceeding in the district court in which the said grant is situated to contest the right and title of said individual, company or corporation to any of said lands so held or claimed, which suit shall be instituted by said city against said parties within twelve months after February 23, 1893, or within twelve months after the said claim is so set up to said lands by said individual, company or corporation.
NMS § 49-9-6