This Travel Alert from the State Department
of the United States updates
information for
U.S. citizens on
security situations in Mexico that may affect their
activities while in that country. This
supersedes the Travel Alert for
Mexico dated October 24, 2007, and
expires on October 15, 2008.
Violence Along The U.S.-Mexico Border
-------------------------------------
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 military troops
in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens are urged to cooperate
with official checkpoints when traveling on
Mexican highways.
Recent Mexican army and police force
conflicts with heavily-armed narcotics
cartels have 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, including Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja
California, and
Chihuahua
City and Ciudad
Juarez in the state of Chihuahua. The situation in northern
Mexico remains very fluid; the
location and timing of future armed
engagements there cannot be predicted.
Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently
unconnected to the narcotics-related
violence, have increased in
Tijuana and Ciudad 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 vehicles
that resemble police vehicles.
U.S.
citizens are urged to be especially alert to
safety and security concerns when visiting
the border region. While Mexican citizens
overwhelmingly are the victims of these
crimes, this uncertain security situation
poses risks for U.S. citizens as
well. Thousands of U.S. citizens cross the border safely
each day, exercising common-sense
precautions such as visiting only legitimate
business and tourist areas of border towns
during daylight hours. It is strongly
recommended that travelers avoid areas where
prostitution and drug dealing occur.
Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles,
particularly in border areas including
Nuevo Laredo,
Matamoros, and Tijuana. There is no
evidence, however, that U.S. citizens are targeted because of
their nationality.
U.S. citizen victims of crime in
Mexico are urged to contact
the consular section of the nearest U.S. consulate or Embassy for advice
and assistance.
Crime and Violence in
Mexico
----------------------------
U.S.
citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise caution when
in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their
surroundings at all times. Violence by
criminal elements affects many parts of the
country, urban and rural, including border
areas. Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens
are specifically targeted, Mexican and
foreign bystanders have been injured or
killed in some violent attacks,
demonstrating the heightened risk in public
places. 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. U.S. citizens
who believe they are being followed should
notify Mexican officials as soon as
possible. U.S. citizens should make every
attempt to travel on main roads during
daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”)
roads, which are generally more secure. It
is preferable for
U.S. citizens to stay in well-known
tourist destinations and tourist areas of
the cities with more adequate security, and
provide an itinerary to a friend or family
member not traveling with them. U.S. citizens should avoid traveling
alone as a means to better ensure their
safety. Refrain from displaying
expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of
money, or other valuable items.
Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico and usually are peaceful.
However, even demonstrations intended to be
peaceful can turn confrontational and
escalate into violence unexpectedly. Some
deaths occurred during violent
demonstrations, including an American
citizen who died in the 2006 violence in
Oaxaca.
During demonstrations or law enforcement
operations, U.S. citizens
are advised to remain in their homes or
hotels, avoid large crowds, and avoid the
downtown and surrounding areas. Since the
timing and routes of scheduled marches and
demonstrations are always subject to change, U.S. citizens
should monitor local media sources for new
developments and exercise extreme caution
while within the vicinity of protests. The
Mexican Constitution prohibits political
activities by foreigners, and such actions
may result in detention and/or deportation.
Therefore, U.S. citizens
are advised to avoid participating in
demonstrations or other activities that
might be deemed political by Mexican
authorities.
For more detailed information on staying
safe in Mexico, please see the Mexico Country
Specific Information at:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should
regularly monitor the Department's internet
web site at
http://travel.state.gov
where the current
Worldwide
Caution, Travel Warnings,
and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date
information on security can also be obtained
by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the
United States, or, for
callers from Mexico, a
regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These
numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday
(except
U.S. federal holidays). American
citizens traveling or residing overseas are
encouraged to register with the appropriate
U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State
Department's travel registration website at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/.
For any emergencies involving
U.S. citizens in
Mexico, please contact the closest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy
is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la
Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone
from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000;
telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000;
telephone long distance within Mexico
01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the
Embassy by e-mail at:
ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The
Embassy's internet address is
http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.
Consulates:
Ciudad Juarez: Avenida
Lopez Mateos 924-n, telephone (52)(656)
611-3000.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175,
telephone (52)(333) 268-2100.
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone
(52)(662) 289-3500.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone
(52)(868) 812-4402.
Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999)
942-5700
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente,
telephone (52)(818) 345-2120.
Nogales:
Calle
San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle
Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone
(52)(867) 714-0512.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664)
622-7400.
Consular Agencies:
Acapulco:
Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel
Aleman 121 - local 14, telephone (52)(744)
484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556.
Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza
Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624)
143-3566.
Cancún: Plaza Caracol two, second level,
no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5,
Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272.
Ciudad Acuña: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro,
telephone (52)(877) 772-8661
Cozumel:
Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza
Principal, (Parque Juárez between Melgar and
5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9,
telephone (52)(987) 872-4574.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd.
Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100.
Mazatlán: Hotel Playa Mazatlán, Playa
Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone
(52)(669) 916-5889.
Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior
20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951)
516-2853.
Piedras Negras: Prol. General Cepeda no.
1900, Fraccionamiento Privada Blanca,
telephone (52) (878) 785-1986.
Playa del Carmen: “The Palapa,” Calle 1
Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20,
telephone (52)(984) 873-0303.
Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local
#4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit,
telephone (52)(322) 222-0069.
Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa,
Colonia Rodríguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923
- 9331
San Luis Potosí:
Edificio "Las Terrazas", Avenida Venustiano
Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone:
(52)(444) 811-7802/7803.
San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias
#72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or
(52)(415) 152-0068.
