San Elizario resident held a meeting on Friday night at the El Paso Community College Mission Campus to discuss how to avoid becoming citizens of Socorro.They've turned to Texas state Rep. Mary Gonzalez for advice on what to do.

The community is looking to incorporate and become its own city, as a last resort. The town has been around 400 years, and hasn't been incorporated into becoming a city. It's all because Socorro's been knocking on the town's door, trying to annex land on the Mission Trail as well as residential and farm land.

But incorporation is no quick and easy process. The mayor of Anthony,. M., which recently incorporated, said it may take San Elizario a year to get it all set up, just like his city.

San Elizario would have to set the parameters limits of where they want to incorporate. They need to get surveyed and they need to file with the county clerk. There are many steps," said Mayor Arnulfo Castaneda of Anthony, NM.

The residents of San Elizario are already looking into what they will have to do to become a city.

"We are talking to our legal representation so we know what our options are, and how we are going to structure the city if we decide to go forward with this process," said San Elizario business owner Rene Roderiguez.

For San Elizario to incorporate, it needs to be approved by a vote of the citizens, they have to elect officials, workers have to be hired, and they have to raise money for it all. It's going to take time -- something they worry they may not have with Socorro planning the annexation