DPS to Spring Breakers: Don't travel to Mexico

March 06, 2012 12:36 PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ/The Brownsville Herald

For at least the second year in a row, the Texas Department of Public Safety is advising Spring Breakers not to travel to Mexico.

The travel warning is advised because of the ongoing violence in Mexico, authorities said.

"The Mexican government has made great strides battling the cartels, and we commend their continued commitment to making Mexico a safer place to live and visit," said DPS Director Steven C. McCraw. "However, drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat, even in some resort areas."

The DPS cites information from the State Department that indicates there were 12,903 narcotic-related homicides in Mexico during the first nine months of 2011.

The information also states 120 U.S. citizens were murdered in Mexico in 2011 compared to 35 in 2007.

McCraw said the situation in Mexico is completely different than it was 10 years ago, and that many crimes against Americans go unpunished.

He stated it is law enforcement's responsibility to inform the public about safety and travel risks and threats.

While DPS acknowledges that some travel to Mexico without any incident,the risk cannot be ignored, authorities said.

The DPS has been issuing similar warnings for at least the past couple of years.

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