Travel Alert for Mexico
 

Please be advised that a Travel Advisory for Mexico has been issued and the following areas are restricted: TIJUANA, NOGALES, JUAREZ, NUEVO LAREDO, ACUNA, PIEDRAS NEGRAS, AND REYNOSA/MATAMOROS:

THE FPCON HAS BEEN SET AS BRAVO FOR MEXICO.

VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY FUELED BY A WAR BETWEEN CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS STRUGGLING FOR CONTROL OF THE LUCRATIVE NARCOTICS TRADE CONTINUES ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. ATTACKS ARE AIMED PRIMARILY AT MEMBERS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS, MEXICAN POLICE FORCES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS, AND JOURNALISTS. HOWEVER, FOREIGN VISITORS AND RESIDENTS, INCLUDING AMERICANS, HAVE BEEN AMONG THE VICTIMS OF HOMICIDES AND KIDNAPPINGS IN THE BORDER REGION.


IN ITS EFFORT TO COMBAT VIOLENCE, THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS DEPLOYED POLICE AND MILITARY TROOPS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. RECENT FIGHTING BETWEEN MEXICAN ARMY/POLICE FORCE AND HEAVILY-ARMED NARCOTICS CARTELS HAS ESCALATED TO LEVELS EQUIVALENT TO MILITARY SMALL-UNIT COMBAT AND HAVE INCLUDED USE OF MACHINE GUNS AND FRAGMENTATION GRENADES. CONFRONTATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN NUMEROUS TOWNS AND CITIES IN NORTHERN MEXICO, ESPECIALLY TIJUANA, THE MEXICAN STATE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA, CHIHUAHUA CITY AND JUAREZ.


THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN MEXICO REMAINS VERY FLUID; THE LOCATION AND TIMING OF FUTURE ARMED ENGAGEMENTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED. ARMED ROBBERIES AND CARJACKINGS, APPARENTLY UNCONNECTED TO THE NARCOTICS-RELATED VIOLENCE, HAVE INCREASED IN TIJUANA AND JUAREZ. DOZENS OF U.S. CITIZENS WERE KIDNAPPED AND/OR MURDERED IN TIJUANA IN 2007. PUBLIC SHOOTOUTS HAVE OCCURRED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS NEAR SHOPPING AREAS. CRIMINALS ARE ARMED WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS. IN SOME CASES, ASSAILANTS HAVE WORN FULL OR PARTIAL POLICE OR MILITARY UNIFORMS AND HAVE USED TRANSPORTATION THAT RESEMBLE POLICE VEHICLES.


VIOLENCE BY CRIMINAL ELEMENTS AFFECTS MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, URBAN AND RURAL, TO INCLUDE BORDER AREAS. THOUGH THERE IS NOEVIDENCE THAT U.S. CITIZENS ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED, MEXICAN AND FOREIGN BYSTANDERS HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN VIOLENT ATTACKS.


IN RECENT YEARS, DOZENS OF U.S. CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO AND MANY CASES REMAIN UNRESOLVED. MOREOVER, NEW CASES OF DISAPPEARANCES AND KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED. NO ONE CAN BE CONSIDERED IMMUNE FROM KIDNAPPING ON THE BASIS OF OCCUPATION, NATIONALITY,OR OTHER FACTORS.


THE EXISTING VIOLENCE DUE TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE DRUG CARTELS HAS CREATED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR ALL PERSONNEL ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER. THE HIGHEST RISK AREAS ARE TIJUANA, NOGALES, JUAREZ, NUEVO LAREDO, ACUNA, PIEDRAS NEGRAS, AND REYNOSA/MATAMOROS.


AS OUTLINED IN THE ABOVE REFERENCES, SEVERAL ARMY AND OTHER SERVICE INSTALLATION COMMANDERS HAVE PLACED AREAS ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER OFF LIMITS DUE TO FORCE PROTECTION CONCERNS.


DUE TO THE INCREASED VIOLENCE ALONG THE BORDER AND BORDER TOWNS, ARMY COMMANDERS ARE ADVISED TO RESTRICT DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY SERVICE MEMBERS TRAVEL TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: TIJUANA, NOGALES, JUAREZ, NUEVO LAREDO, ACUNA, PIEDRAS NEGRAS, AND REYNOSA/MATAMOROS. USARNORTH RECOMMENDS THAT TRAVEL TO THESE AREAS REMAIN RESTRICTED UNTIL SAFETY AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IMPROVE.


COMMANDERS SHOULD CONSIDER APPROVING TRAVEL TO THESE AREAS ONLY
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS FOR FAMILY AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR CRITICAL
MISSION REQUIREMENTS AND ONLY AFTER COMPLETING A THOROUGH RISK ASSESSMENT,
APPROVED BY SENIOR LEADERSHIP.


IF TRAVEL TO THESE AREAS IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, RECOMMEND THAT TRAVELERS RECEIVE APPROPRIATE AT/FP TRAINING ON PERSONAL PROTECTION PROCEDURES AND RECEIVE APPROPRIATE THREAT/AREA BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO
TRAVEL.


FAMILY MEMBERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY CIVILIANS, AND CIVILIAN
CONTRACTORS ARE URGED TO AVOID TRAVEL TO THESE AREAS AS WELL.


IN ADDITION, ALL ARMY COMMANDERS ARE REMINDED THAT SOLDIERS DESIRING
TO TAKE LEAVE OR TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MUST OBTAIN APPROVAL. ARMY
RULES FOR LEAVE OR TRAVEL CLEARANCE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES ARE LOCATED IN
CHAPTER 8, AR 600-8-10. WHEN GRANTED LEAVE OR TRAVEL CLEARANCE OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES, ALL DOD PERSONNEL ON TEMPORARY DUTY, LEAVE OR PASS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLYING WITH ALL OTHER LOCAL, HOST,
INSTALLATION TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, AND THE DOD FOREIGN CLEARANCE GUIDE.
8. (U) EFFECTIVE 31 JANUARY 2008, U.S. CITIZENS NEED TO PRESENT EITHER A
PASSPORT OR A GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID, SUCH AS A DRIVERS LICENSE, PLUS
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, SUCH AS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WHEN ENTERING THE U.S.
FROM MEXICO OR CANADA, VIA LAND OR SEA/SEE
HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/TRAVEL/CBPMC/CBPMC_2223.HTML.


THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE WARNS U.S. CITIZENS AGAINST TAKING ANY TYPE
OF FIREARM OR AMMUNITION INTO MEXICO WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
FROM THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES. ENTERING MEXICO WITH A FIREARM, ANY TYPE OF
KNIFE OR EVEN A SINGLE ROUND OF AMMUNITION IS ILLEGAL. EVEN IF THE WEAPON OR
AMMUNITION IS TAKEN INTO MEXICO UNINTENTIONALLY, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
STRICTLY ENFORCES ITS LAWS RESTRICTING THE ENTRY OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
ALONG ALL LAND BORDERS AND AT AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS. VIOLATIONS HAVE
RESULTED IN ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND LONG PRISON SENTENCES FOR U.S.
CITIZENS. ADDITIONALLY, U.S. CITIZENS ARE URGED TO COOPERATE WITH OFFICIAL
CHECKPOINTS WHEN TRAVELING ON MEXICAN ROADS.


FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON STAYING SAFE IN MEXICO, PLEASE SEE
THE MEXICO COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFORMATION AT:
HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/TRAVEL/CIS_P...S/CIS_970.HTML. FOR THE LATEST
SECURITY INFORMATION, U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING ABROAD SHOULD REGULARLY
MONITOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNET WEB SITE AT HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
WHERE THE CURRENT WORLDWIDE CAUTION, TRAVEL WARNINGS, AND TRAVEL ALERTS CAN
BE FOUND.

no worries. All the people this warning is about will be in Phoenix this weekend. Feel free to enjoy your safe holiday in mexico.

I just can't believe how violent it has become. I can remember visiting a number of times when I lived in Texas and we always had a great time. This warning was sent over a government computer to all those with access.

Have you been reading my "drug wars too close to home thread"?

As long as you stay out of the border cities, you should be fine. They're targeting cops.

Is that cruise you're taking to Mexico? No worries! They're not going to shoot you in Puerta Vallarta or Cozumel or wherever.

I was sort of thinking about this statement and how many of those places I have visited:

"IN RECENT YEARS, DOZENS OF U.S. CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO AND MANY CASES REMAIN UNRESOLVED. MOREOVER, NEW CASES OF DISAPPEARANCES AND KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED. NO ONE CAN BE CONSIDERED IMMUNE FROM KIDNAPPING ON THE BASIS OF OCCUPATION, NATIONALITY,OR OTHER FACTORS.


THE EXISTING VIOLENCE DUE TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE DRUG CARTELS HAS CREATED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR ALL PERSONNEL ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER. THE HIGHEST RISK AREAS ARE TIJUANA, NOGALES, JUAREZ, NUEVO LAREDO, ACUNA, PIEDRAS NEGRAS, AND REYNOSA/MATAMOROS.

visited? I live here!

Excerpt from today's paper, a typical occurrence:

meh. sometimes I stop at the Liqour store in Camden. at night.

Damm! I can't believe that. What a nightmare. So do you hear gunshots every night like firecrackers or what?

not at all. All is calm--on THIS side of the border.

I see you haven't been reading drug wars too close to home, but that's okay. Decapitated bodies littered about, dozens of people killed every week, soldiers roaming the streets --

and yet, I feel safe, over here.

The major problem, I think, is cultural. La mordida, corruption, and bribery, are so ingrained. They've never had an honest police or military there. The only solution is a campaign of cultural change, to stress honesty, and train and pay their peacekeepers appropriately.

Yea, I don't see where I posted on that thread one time, sorry.

well sorry, but . . . you sounded so surprised, like this was news to you.

so, is your cruise to Mexico?

No, Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Martin.

Fuck Mexico, I ain't goin' nowhere without my jackknife. :p

Yea, but what about yer pocket nuke? Hmmmmm, how about that?