Mexico trips seen as dire
By JULIAN AGUILAR, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
04/16/2008

An updated travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department on Monday concerning the increased violence along the Mexican border means Laredo officials will have to continue to address concerns from curious visitors questioning whether traveling to Nuevo Laredo is safe.The travel alert is not as foreboding as the common "travel warning" the State Department issues, but it does name specific border regions, including Nuevo Laredo, as places where travelers should exercise more caution.

"Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros and Tijuana," the advisory reads. "There is no evidence, however, that U.S. citizens are targeted because of their nationality."

The advisory indicates the updated information supersedes the previous travel alert for Mexico dated Oct. 24, 2007, that was set to expire this October.

Blasita Lopez, the acting director of the Laredo Convention and Visitor's Bureau said the information should indicate a spike in inquiries about people concerned with traveling to Nuevo Laredo.

"When an alert like this is issued we do see the prevalence of that question and that discussion (about the safety and security concerns) peak a little bit," she said. She added, however, that city officials take their responsibility of acting as liaisons between the sister cities seriously and she cautioned all travelers to exercise basic cautionary measures.

"We just tell them to practice common sense," she said. "Any time you're traveling in a foreign country, you would take certain precautions with your money, your personal belongings, with your vehicle, things like that."

Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas said the advisory must not be taken lightly.

"Anytime you have an alert, you have to take it seriously," he said. He agreed with Lopez, however, that travel habits should remain consistent no matter what country is being visited.

"I would hope anyone traveling anywhere is ready to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and to be alert," he said.

He added, however, that there is a difference between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo and, unfortunately, some people have yet to realize that.

"There is still that misconception between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo," he said. "They don't distinguish the difference."

For that reason, there is concern that updated alert may keep Laredo in a negative light nationally, but Salinas said Mexican and U.S. law enforcement officials have been cooperating more to keep people on both sides of the border safe.

The alert states more than once that there is no evidence U.S. citizens are targeted solely because of where they are from, but it does caution that anyone can be a victim of the violence, whether on purpose or not.

"Attacks are aimed primarily at members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican police forces, criminal justice officials and journalists," it reads. "However, foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been among the victims of homicides and kidnappings in the border region."

It also addresses the concern that some criminal elements may bear the uniform of military or police officials to perform their acts incognito, and includes details about how recent confrontations between law enforcement and cartels has produced battles similar to "military small-unit combat."

Lopez reiterated that all travelers, whether seasoned or not, should exercise the most obvious discretion when going to Mexico.

"(It's) common-sense caution," she said. "Again, be more careful about your personal belongings, your money. Be in a well-lit area, and stay in places that are populated. (It's) just real common sense advice that we give people."

(Julian Aguilar may be reached at 728-2557 or by e-mail at jaguilar@lmtonline.com)

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