Thread: Nogales, Mexico included in U.S. travel alert

Oct 15, 3:48 PM EDT

Nogales, Mexico included in US travel alert

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- The U.S. State Department has issued an updated travel alert adding Nogales to its list of locales in Mexico where American travelers should be wary of because of increasing violence.

The advisory attributes much of the violence in northern Mexico border cities to fighting among Mexican drug cartels for control of border-area narcotics trafficking routes.

Mexico's government has deployed military troops to the region to try to crack down on the drug organizations.

The alert said Nogales and Ciudad Juarez recently had public shootouts during daylight hours.

It also said U.S. citizens driving along Route 15 between Nogales and Hermosillio have been followed and harassed.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AZ_TRAVEL

What a strong stance by the government!!! What a joke, and what a bunch of political bullcrap. Are we really now licking the boots of the Mexican government to have a pleasant neighborhood?

U.S. issues travel advisory for Mexico

Americans are advised to be extra careful because of drug gang violence

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Mexico City Bureau
Oct. 14, 2008, 11:13PM

MEXICO CITY — Pointing to "an increased level" of gangland violence raging along parts of the border and deep into Mexico, the U.S. State Department issued a new warning for American travelers to take extra precautions in the country.

"The situation in northern Mexico remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot be predicted," the department said. "While most of the crime victims are Mexican citizens, the uncertain security situation poses risks for U.S. citizens as well."

The travel advisory does not urge Americans to avoid any city but to be aware of the heightened risks of drug gang-related violence in particular areas.

"The vast majority of Americans travel in Mexico without incident," said Tony Garza, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

Of special concern, the State Department said, is Ciudad Juarez, the sprawling metropolis of 1.2 million people bordering El Paso, where more than 1,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence so far this year.

Two large criminal gangs are warring for control of the narcotics-smuggling routes into the United States and for control of local street sales for a growing number of Mexican drug users. But the U.S. warning also noted that 1,600 vehicles were stolen in Juarez last July alone.

The bulletin also pointed out the occasional clashes between large numbers of gangland gunmen and Mexican police and military, especially in Chihuahua state, bordering West Texas.

"Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have taken on the characteristics of small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and, on occasion, grenades," the department said.

Underworld violence has killed more than 5,000 people since President Felipe Calderon ordered the army and federal police to crack down on the country's powerful drug cartels.

"Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in some violent attacks, demonstrating the heightened risk in public places," the State Department warned.

dudley.althaus@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6058663.html

It also said U.S. citizens driving along Route 15 between Nogales and Hermosillio have been followed and harassed.

They do that here too.