I believe a prominent Arizona family was involved in the transaction. The Pulliam newspaper gave it a lot of press and were opposed to the deal. Some people thought it was done to establish a drug route through Arizona because the border had no demarcation between Mexico and the States. Others thought it was to permit easy access for immigrants to cross the border unimpeded. Whatever the objective it seemed highly suspect.
The last stupid unenforced Immigration legislation was passed at approximately the same time. I think every legislator that signed that last bill who is still alive,either active or retired should lose their pension and the money should accrue to Arizona where it should be used to secure the border. In fact,I think all legislation which goes sour should result in the cancellation of the legislators' pensions. They might start paying attention to what they are doing.
Why would the rich elites that own the papers and our news inform the public? What do they have to gain?