U.S. State Department updates travel alert for Mexico
A large increase in violence near the border between Mexico and the United States has recently prompted the State Department to heighten warnings to U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico.
The department reported escalating confrontations have included automatic weapons, grenades and assailants wearing full or partial police or military uniforms and vehicles that resemble police vehicles.
Rapid growth rates in robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjackings are especially intense in Tijuana and northern Baja California.
According to the report, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Ciudad Juarez this year, bank robberies are up dramatically, and more than 1,600 cars were stolen there in July.
Public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues have occurred in Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Nogales and other cities, the report said.
U.S. citizens are urged to travel during daylight hours on major roads or toll roads; stay in well-known tourist destinations; provide an itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling with you; carry a GSM-enabled cellphone that functions internationally; and avoid traveling alone, wearing expensive-looking jewelry or carrying large amounts of cash or valuables.
The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs offers more Mexico-specific travel information on its website.
– Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times staff writer
[Photo: Cars at the border in Tijuana by Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times]
4 Comments on “U.S. State Department updates travel alert for Mexico”
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October 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
Wow! I can’t WAIT for NAFTA II!
As for that RACIST wall, forget it!
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Readers should understand that, to-date, no tourists to Tijuana have been involved with any of the cartel-related violence that the State Department alert refers to. Despite the bad publicity, more violent crime happens in cities like New Orleans and even St. Louis (MO) than Tijuana (according to public data) - so please take the alert in context.
In fact, many US visitors have come to enjoy the Entijuanarte festival, Expo Tequila and (currently) the Guanajuato Mummy Exhibition (at the Forum on Avenida Revolucion) without any negative incidents. Feel free to contact the Tijuana Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.TijuanaOnline.org) or call them toll free from the US at 1-888-775-2417 if you have any questions or doubts.
Thank you!
-Melanie
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 am
The Mexico Vacation Awareness Organization was formed to create awareness about the many unknown dangers of traveling to Mexico. The site contains a lot of articles and information as well as stories written by family members who have had loved ones die tragically while vacationing in Mexico. Please visit: http://WWW.MEXICOVACATIONAWARENESS.COM
February 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I live in St. Louis and would not set foot in Mexico right now (I had visited Tijuana a few years ago). In St. Louis, gangs don’t burn bodies and make “stew” to promote fear, nor are they trained mercenaries. I’m sure this isn’t happening in New Orleans either.
But Mexico? Yes.