U.S. Consulate Tells Staff to Stay Home

They warn of increased violence from factions of the Gulf cartel

POSTED: 11:29 PM CST Feb 04, 2015 UPDATED: 12:03 AM CST Feb 05, 2015

BROWNSVILLE -The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros is warning of increasing violence just south of the US Mexico border. Large convoys of armed members have been seen near the entrance to the Brownsville Veterans International Bridge on the Mexican side.

Violence is also expected near a U.S. Consulate in Matamoros.

Several gun battles have happened across the border leaving 14 dead recently.

The consulate in Matamoros sent out an alert Tuesday.

They report sightings of the cartel groups driving through Matamoros and said the violence is coming from factions of the Gulf cartel.

Repeated travel warnings urge U.S. citizens not to go into Mexico unless absolutely necessary. Because of the threat, staff at the American Consulate in Matamoros is being told to stay home. They are being told to restrict travel from home to work until further notice.


The U.S. Consulate is just across the Rio Grande from the Valley and only a couple hundred feet from the U.S.


They also warn to watch out for the vehicles driving nearby.


Social media reports that vehicles marked with Escorpion, M3, XX, 900 or C7 are involved in the gun violence across the border.


The consulate said to turn to social media for updates of any violence in the area.

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