News
Kidnappings, drugs and violence on the border - Warnings arise against travel to Mexico
The Pointer
ataub878@uwsp.edu
The United States State Department has warned those who are Mexico-bound to be increasingly cautious by issuing a travel alert that is effective through Aug. 20, 2009.
This is due to a swell in violence, kidnappings and drug-related crimes in Mexico. A number of universities are joining in the government’s warning, issuing their own.
The State Department reports that in recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico, with several cases that remain unresolved.
During some confrontations with drug cartels U.S. citizens have also been trapped and temporarily prohibited from departing the area.
Officials have fought drug-related violence in the country for years, but a recent boost in murders, kidnappings and other violent events has brought increased attention to the issue.
President Barack Obama spoke out about ways that the United States is working to curtail the problems in Mexico from spilling across the border, in a press conference Tuesday, March 24.
“We are sending millions of dollars in additional equipment to provide more effective surveillance,” said Obama. “We are providing hundreds of additional personnel that can help control the border and deal with customs issues. We are coordinating very effectively with the Mexican government and President Calderon, who has taken on a(n) extraordinarily difficult task dealing with these drug cartels that have gotten completely out of hand.”
Obama also spoke about how the United States needs to work to prevent the situation in Mexico from escalating further by stopping their supply of weapons and money.
“We’ve got to also take some steps. Even as he is doing more to deal with the drug cartels sending drugs into the United States, we need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren’t flowing back to these cartels,” said Obama. “That’s part of what’s financing their operations. That’s part of what’s arming them. That’s what makes them so dangerous. And this is something that we take very seriously, and we’re going to continue to work on diligently in the months to come.”
Just this past July, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation, 443 people were killed in Mexico due to drug-related violence.
Along the border, many areas are also experiencing rapid growth in robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjacking. Mexican authorities reported that more than 1,800 people have been killed since Jan. 2008, in Ciudad Juarez alone.
Just last week, off the border of Mexico, 11 Michigan State University students were kidnapped, tied up and robbed at gunpoint along a highway during a spring break trip in Guatemala. According to the Detroit news, the students were nearing the end of a guided tour when their bus was boarded by several armed men who took cameras, iPods, cell phones, watches and money.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs warns that it is crucial for travelers to understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how to avoid dangerous situations and who to contact in case of an emergency. Precautions such as visiting only valid business and tourist areas during daylight hours and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur can help guarantee a trip to Mexico that is protected and pleasant.
Each year during spring break, as many as 100,000 high school and college students travel from the United States to Mexico, according to National Travel Club statistics, causing many universities to warn students of the dangers in Mexico before their spring break.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Health Services sent an e-mail to students encouraging a safe spring break and the university police chief of Chicago State University sent an announcement to the campus community warning students to either stay away from certain areas of Mexico or at least be aware when they travel. Other warnings have been issued across the United States at countless universities.
The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point did not issue a formal warning to students over the issues surrounding travel to Mexico over spring break.
“Now, we are going to continue to monitor the situation,” said Obama. “And if the steps that we’ve taken do not get the job done, then we will do more.”
