Thread: "U.S. Marines told to stay out of Mexico" MSNBC

Warning to Marines: Stay Out of Mexico!

NBCSanDiego.com
updated 20 minutes ago

Camp Pendleton Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) are ordered not to travel to Tijuana or any part of Mexico under tough new restrictions because of recent border violence.

A Public Affairs Officer with the First Marine Expeditionary Force confirms a note went out Jan 10, updating the policy for travel to Mexico.

“I MEF has continued to carefully monitor the violence in Mexico associated with the ongoing war between rival drug cartels and assess the associated risk to reward for I MEF personnel travel. Due to the degree of prolonged, escalating violence, I MEF will extend the current liberty policy to a standing policy for all travel to Mexico,â€

Marines now have to have sign-off from a Lt. Colonal or higher to cross the border and that includes Marines living in Mexico or visiting immediate family members there.

Why are US Marines allowed to live outside the borders of this country? It just shows to me that their loyalty is not to the US, but they have no problem taking a paycheck and benefits.

Originally Posted by vortex

Marines now have to have sign-off from a Lt. Colonal or higher to cross the border and that includes Marines living in Mexico or visiting immediate family members there.

Why are US Marines allowed to live outside the borders of this country? It just shows to me that their loyalty is not to the US, but they have no problem taking a paycheck and benefits.

The cost of living in Tijuana is much cheaper than in San Diego. People live there to save money. I certainly wouldn't question their loyalty.

There are tens of thousands of retire American citizens living in Mexico because of the cost of living there.

Originally Posted by vortex

Marines now have to have sign-off from a Lt. Colonal or higher to cross the border and that includes Marines living in Mexico or visiting immediate family members there.

Why are US Marines allowed to live outside the borders of this country? . . .

Because this is a free country and they have the same right to live where they so choose as you do.

Does the Marine Corps have a stipulation that those under their command are American citizens, as I vaguely remember a news report about so many soldiers being sworn into citizenship. Do we have any bases in Mexico? And what would happen if these guys needed to defend the border against an invasion--would they be able to get back?

Originally Posted by vortex

Does the Marine Corps have a stipulation that those under their command are American citizens, as I vaguely remember a news report about so many soldiers being sworn into citizenship. Do we have any bases in Mexico? And what would happen if these guys needed to defend the border against an invasion--would they be able to get back?

You do not have to be an American citizen to join any branch of the U.S. Military. You do have to be here legally, no illegal aliens can join the military. Hundreds of thousands of people enter the U.S. every day. Why would marines have any problem getting back into the country? I am not aware of any U.S. bases in Mexico just as I am unaware of any Mexican bases in the U.S. If there are any someone please let me know about them.

RELATED

Fort Huachuca soldiers to stay out of Mexico

By Arthur H. Rotstein - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday May 19, 2007 10:28:26 EDT

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — The Army’s top officer in southern Arizona on Friday ordered soldiers at Fort Huachuca not to travel into Mexico because of recent drug-related violence across the border.

Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast, commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca, issued the order after a drug cartel assault force overran the town of Cananea on Wednesday.

The attackers killed seven people, including five police officers, before police and army troops hunted down and killed 16 of the assailants in ensuing mountain gun battles.

“In view of the recent increase in drug-related violence just across the Mexican border near the towns of Cananea and Naco, until further notice, I am directing that all military personnel and strongly advising all Department of the Army civilian personnel and their families to restrict their travel by avoiding the border towns of Mexico,â€

At the very least it would appear to me to be a security risk for an American military person,especially on active duty,to live in a foreign country while working every day on a US military base.I hope that the disciplined Corps that I knew would not allow even an appearance of such potential security lapses to be possible.I remember that we were restricted to only a very few miles from base unless we were on leave.Security was tight as we were at war as we are today and we didn't even have the terrorist problem then.Married Marines were given little slack about even living close by off base,much less allow them to consider living in another country.

Thanks JD2. As you have probably guessed, I really have no idea of military law, but perhaps paranoia is setting in worrying about these Marines and their families becoming sitting ducks for an assault by the cartels, who apparently conduct their war by eliminating anyone who MAY pose a threat to them. I worry about how this country has blown up and I worry about the men trained to protect it.

The local San Diego news stations are now saying that the ban also includes all of the sailors in southern California too.