Citing rising violence, the U.S. State Department’s latest Mexico alert
urges travelers to delay trips to parts of Michoacan and Chihuahua states.
The alert, issued Thursday, advises U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary
travel to those areas and to exercise “extreme caution” if a visit is
necessary.
From The State Department Travel
Alert
Throughout Mexico, the State Department said,
travelers should try to travel on main roads during daylight hours,
especially toll roads, which are typically more secure. Officials also
recommend that Americans avoid traveling alone, put away fancy jewelry,
stay in well-known tourist areas and leave itineraries with friends or
family.
Mexican drug cartels are engaged in violent conflict – both among
themselves and with Mexican security services – for control of narcotics
trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order to combat
violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various
parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with
official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.
Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels
have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons
and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in towns and cities
across Mexico, but occur mostly in northern Mexico, including Tijuana,
Chihuahua City, Monterrey and Ciudad Juarez. During some of these
incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from
leaving the area. The U.S. Mission in Mexico currently restricts
non-essential travel within the state of Durango, the northwest quadrant
of Chihuahua and an area southeast of Ciudad Juarez, and all parts of the
state of Coahuila south of Mexican Highways 25 and 22 and the Alamos River
for US Government employees assigned to Mexico. This restriction was
implemented in light of the recent increase in assaults, murders, and
kidnappings in those three states. The situation in northern Mexico
remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot
be predicted.
A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the
rates of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts,
and carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico
generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana and northern Baja
California. Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities
which have experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping
centers and other public venues. Criminals have followed and
harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas
including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana.
The situation in the state of Chihuahua including Ciudad Juarez is of
special concern. The U.S. Consulate General recommends that
American citizens defer non-essential travel to the Guadalupe Bravo area
southeast of Ciudad Juarez and to the northwest quarter of the state
of Chihuahua including the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes and
surrounding communities. From the United States, these areas are
often reached through the Columbus, NM and Fabens and Fort Hancock, TX
ports-of-entry. In both areas, American citizens have been victims
of drug related violence.
Mexican authorities report that more than 1,000 people have been killed
in Ciudad Juarez in the first six-months of 2009. Additionally, this
city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and
1,650 carjackings in 2008. U.S. citizens should pay close attention
to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated
locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to
news reports. Visa and other service seekers visiting the Consulate
are encouraged to make arrangements to pay for those services using a
non-cash method.
U.S. citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns
when visiting the border region. Criminals are armed with a wide
array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn
full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that
resemble police vehicles. While most crime victims are Mexican
citizens, the uncertain security situation poses serious risks for U.S.
citizens as well. U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged
to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S. consulate or Embassy
for advice and assistance.
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State Department Warns About Mexico Travel
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