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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | April 2007 
US Governnment Renews Call Americans to Take Safety Precautions in Mexico
 Dane Schiller - mysanantonio.com
In a move sure to keep a scowl on Mexican President Felipe Calderon's face, the U.S. government announced it is renewing its "announcement" that Americans need to be careful when in Mexico.
Since taking office Dec. 1, Calderon has deployed thousands of federal agents and police to shore up law and order in Mexico and snuff out drug-cartel related violence. Despite his efforts, the violence continues, as does the criticism.
Keep in mind the U.S. State Department is quite touching about the point that this is officially an announcement - not a warning, an advisory, an alert - just an announcement.
The repeated renewal of this announcement and similar official concerns about Mexico have gotten under the skin of Mexicans, including common citizens, lawmakers and presidents, including Calderon's predecessor, Vicente Fox.
Mexicans don't try to dress-up the rate of violence in this country, but when they see things such as the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, they wonder how the United States can point fingers. The massacre has dominated front pages here, as it has in the United States. There is sympathy.
Still, there is no denying a drug-cartel turf war is raging in Mexico and hundreds of people are being killed.
As for the State Department, here is a taste:
"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," the announcement notes.
"In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican officials in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero (particularly Acapulco), Nuevo Leon (especially in and around Monterrey) and other states," it continues. ".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 Nuevo Laredo with more than two dozen cases still unresolved and new cases of kidnap for ransom continue to be reported. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros"
"U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify 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."
Click HERE for the US State Department Updated Mexico Travel Warning |
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