United States Department of State : Mexico Travel Warning
Posted on Tuesday, March 16 @ 18:35:10 EDT
Topic: Mexican Mexico Border illegal immigratio
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 Travel Warning United State Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC
Mexico
March 14, 2010
The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S.
citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the
security situation in Mexico, and that it has authorized the departure
of the dependents of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in
the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez,
Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros until April 12. Family members of
US Government personnel assigned to other areas of Mexico outside the
Mexican border states are not affected by this departure measure. This
Travel Warning supercedes the Travel Alert dated February 22, 2010, and
announces the authorized departure of some dependents and updates
security incidents.
Topics: National Security, border security, Mexico, homeland security, spillover, violence, travel, spring break, border, crime, murder, killings
While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit
Mexico each year (including tens of thousands who cross the land border
daily for study, tourism or business and nearly one million U.S.
citizens who live in Mexico), violence in the country has increased. It
is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks in Mexico, how
best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if victimized.
Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and
tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where
prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel
to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.
Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S.
citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and
Chihuahua states(see details below) and advise U.S. citizens residing
or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution. Drug cartels
and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against
individuals who speak out against them or whom they otherwise view as a
threat to their organizations. These attacks include the abduction and
murder of two resident U.S. citizens in Chihuahua.
Violence Along the U.S. - Mexico Border
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. To combat
violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops
throughout the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with
official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.
Some recent confrontations between Mexican authorities and drug
cartel members 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 Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Chihuahua City, Nogales, Matamoros,
Reynosa and Monterrey. 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 its U.S. government
employees’ travel within the state of Durango, the northwest quadrant
of the state 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. This restriction was implemented in light of a
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. Recently, the cities
of Durango and Gomez Palacio in the state of Durango, and the area
known as “La Laguna” in the state of Coahuila, which includes the city
of Torreon, experienced sharp increases in violence. In late 2009 and
early 2010, four visiting U.S. citizens were murdered in Gomez Palacio,
Durango. These and several other unsolved murders in the state of
Durango have caused particular concern.
A number of areas along the border continue to experience a rapid
growth in crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and carjackings
have all increased over the last year across Mexico, with notable
spikes in Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and northern Baja California. Ciudad
Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities that 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. Travelers on the highways between Monterrey and
other parts of Mexico to the United States (notably through Nuevo
Laredo and Matamoros) have been targeted for robbery and violence and
have also inadvertently been caught in incidents of gunfire between
criminals and Mexican law enforcement. Such incidents are more likely
to occur at night but may occur at any time.
The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically 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 2,600 people were killed
in Ciudad Juarez in 2009. Additionally, this city of 1.3 million people
experienced more than 16,000 car thefts and 1,900 carjackings in 2009.
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. Contact information is provided at the end
of this message.
Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico
U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution
in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
Bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities
across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in
public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens living in
Mexico have been kidnapped and most of their cases remain unsolved.
U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or
other crimes should notify Mexican law enforcement officials and the
U.S. Embassy in Mexico City or the nearest U.S. consulate as soon as
possible. Any U.S. visitor who suspects they are a target should
consider returning to the United States immediately. U.S. citizens
should be aware that many cases of violent crime are never resolved by
Mexican law enforcement, and the U.S. government has no authority to
investigate crimes committed in Mexico.
U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads
during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which
generally are more secure. When warranted, the U.S. Embassy and
consulates advise their employees as well as private U.S. citizens to
avoid certain areas, abstain from driving on certain roads because of
dangerous conditions or criminal activity, or recommend driving during
daylight hours only. When this happens, the Embassy or the affected
consulate will alert the local U.S. citizen Warden network and post the
information on their respective websites, indicating the nature of the
concern and the expected time period for which the restriction will
remain in place.
U.S. citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist
areas. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family
member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and check with
their cellular phone service providers prior to departure to confirm
that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international
networks. Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of
money, or other valuable items. Travelers to remote or isolated hunting
or fishing venues should be aware of their distance from appropriate
medical, law enforcement, and consular services in an emergency
situation.
Demonstrations and Large Public Gatherings
Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico and usually are
peaceful. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn
confrontational and escalate to violence unexpectedly. Violent
demonstrations have resulted in deaths, including that of an American
citizen in Oaxaca in 2006. In 2008, a Mexican Independence Day
celebration was the target of a violent attack. During demonstrations
or law enforcement operations, U.S. citizens are advised to remain in
their homes or hotels, avoid large crowds, and avoid the downtown and
surrounding areas. Since the timing and routes of scheduled marches and
demonstrations are always subject to change, U.S. citizens should
monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extreme
caution while within the vicinity of protests.
The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners,
and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation. U.S.
citizens are therefore advised to avoid participating in demonstrations
or other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican
authorities. As is always the case in any large gathering, U.S.
citizens should remain alert to their surroundings.
Further Information
This information is current as of today, Mon Mar 15 19:29:17 2010.
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