PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 23, 2010 -
Many U.S. citizens in the border city of Nuevo Laredo are on lockdown. They're being warned to stay inside until further notice after gun battles overnight left eight people dead.
The newest State Department travel warning again singles out several border cities. It’s no surprise Juarez is on the list, but so is Nogales and Nuevo Laredo, which had been quiet until the last few months.
“On that particular Friday somebody had thrown a grenade into the American consulate. We came over on Saturday and there was no problem,” said John Wise a Nuevo Laredo visitor.
And that's the problem. The U.S. State Department warns the situation in Northern Mexico, “remains fluid. The location and timing of future armed engagements cannot be predicted.”
There are new concerns for motorists in Mexico. Video posted on You Tube shows men carjacking people. Drug gangs used vehicles to block streets and evade authorities in Monterrey.
And on some Mexican roads there's another danger fake check points manned by drug traffickers dressed as soldiers or police. The State Department advises Americans to stop at all check points since some motorists who do not have been killed.
The State Department travel warning tells Americans to stay out of three Mexican border states unless the travel is absolutely necessary. Those states are Chihuahua, Tamaulipas and Coahuila.
Those who must drive in Mexico are warned to do so during daylight hours and stick to major highways or toll roads.
Violence in Mexico has forced United States to issue travel advisory for its citizens. Travel advisory has been issued over drug related violence in Mexico.
In the travel advisory US government has asked its citizens to avoid traveling to northern part of Mexico and also informed its diplomats and their family that cross border travel has been banned.
This warning by US State Department has come in wake of several violence incidents in the Mexico. On Sunday 18 people were killed at a party in the city of Torren and 19 people were killed at a drug rehab center in Chihuahua. In total over 1500 people have been killed in drug related violence in Mexico. US also mentions that 4 of its citizens have died in Mexico since late 2009.
According to the travel advisory issued by US state department:
"Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year. This includes tens of thousands who cross the border every day for study, tourism or business and at least one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes. Nevertheless, crime and violence are serious problems. While most victims of violence are Mexican citizens associated with criminal activity, the security situation poses serious risks for U.S. citizens as well.
This new travel advisory is likely to affect tourism in Mexico. Since advisory specifically mentions border areas of Mexico, number of US citizens traveling to Mexico could fall.
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