EL PASO, Texas -- Fort Bliss officials say that they've temporarily discontinued issuing passes to soldiers who want to travel across the border to Juarez because of increasing violence there.

"This is only for a short term until things settle down and there's no perceived danger to any soldier or anyone going to Juarez," Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt said Saturday. "I think it's just based on the events that are going on in Juarez at this time."

Offutt said the disruption for military personnel who are now restricted from entering Juarez to visit family or travel may only be temporary. The decision will be reviewed in two weeks.

She said that Fort Bliss has on occasion temporarily prohibited soldiers from crossing into Juarez.

"For a short time, it would be to the advantage to the soldier to protect him and put this into effect," Offutt said.

Juarez already has recorded more than 30 homicides since the beginning of the year.

Earlier this week, a Mexican police commander who was shot several times in an ambush was put under heavy police protection in an El Paso hospital.

Cmdr. Fernando Lozano Sandoval, of the Chihuahua State Investigations Agency, was shot Monday night in the Mexican city just across the Rio Grande from El Paso. He was one of three police officials shot in Juarez over two days, and the only one to survive.

Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com


Hmm...why would US Soldiers be going to Juarez to vist family ?