Are Travelers Safe As Drug Violence Hits Mexico?
Caution Rewards Tourists Despite Public Display of Violence by Gangs
Nov 13, 2008
How Dangerous is Mexico?
It depends on who you ask. The U.S. State Department effectively told tourists that the danger level was high when it issued a travel alert for Mexico on October 18, 2008. The alert, which will not expire until April of next year, offers the following cautions to travelers.
- Avoid attending large gatherings or public demonstrations, as such events can potentially erupt into violence (An American citizen was killed during such a gathering in Oaxaca, in 2006).
- Restrict travel to daylight hours and to main routes, especially toll ("cuota") roads.
- Avoid traveling alone. If it must be done, provide a detailed itinerary to a friend or family member.
- Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large sums of money, or other valuable items.
All-Out War
Since his election in 2006, Mexico President Felipe Calderon has employed an unusual strategy for decreasing drug violence in his country: More violence.
Calderon has vowed to fight fire with fire when it comes to dealing with drug cartels, pouring federal troops into major trafficking cities and hiring scores of additional state police officers. The resulting violence has left many dead on both sides of the law, with no obvious end in sight.
President Calderon's policy of "elimination" of organized crime has raised widespread controversy amongst Mexicans. Media groups such as The Narco News Bulletin argue that Calderon's strategy has led to more violence as drug cartels compete for territory left open by organized crime leaders slain by Mexican police.
Is Spring Break in Mexico Safe?
The U.S. Department of State issued a publication specifically addressing the topic of safety for Spring Break travelers, entitled "Know Before You Go!" The document's predominant message is that Americans should never take their safety for granted while traveling in Mexico. Potential victimization by robbery, kidnapping, or rape are stern realities for the more than 100,000 American youth who travel south of the border each year.
In terms of violence due to drug cartel activity, the following Mexican cities are amongst those of greatest safety risk for travelers.
- Acapulco: Drug-related violence dangerously high.
- Matamoros/South Padre Island: These border cities just below the Texas line exist on notorious drug trafficking routes. Violence amongst rival smugglers is common.
- Nogales/Sonora: The U.S. State Department website does not specifically mention drug violence in this area, but the high level of rival cartel violence often spills into the streets.
- Tijuana: Another city not specifically labeled as unsafe, but has frequently made news in recent years as one of the most violent of the border cities.
- Ciudad Juarez: Drug-related violence dangerously high, as well as incidences of robbery of tourists.
Even barring the worry of getting caught in the crosshairs of drug violence, there's still the Mexican legal system to consider. U.S. citizenship does not defer one's ability to get arrested and held for long periods of time without trial, even if the crime is minor by American standards. Irresponsible, but "fun" behavior, including public drunkenness can lead a Spring Break reveler straight to a Mexican jail.
Dangerous, But Not That Dangerous
The primary truth to consider when planning a vacation, or even a day trip, to Mexico, is that like any destination, there is potential for victimization by violence. Drug-related violence in Mexico is often centralized in certain major cities in the center of the country, as well as along its northern border.
Following safety advice provided by the U.S. Consulate, Embassy, and State Department helps to ensure that a safe, fun time is had by all.
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