Travel Warnings to Mexico Expanded for US Citizens

Image via Wikipedia

In a sign of increasing chaos and uncertainty in Mexico, the US State Department has widened its already steady travel warning to US Citizens, emphasising a need on steering clear of certain areas, and to avoid driving at night. According to CNN, no state has been left untouched, and includes most regions of the country, including southern regions. Two states have been red flagged, Michoacán and Tamaulipas, the northern state that borders Texas.

Unfortunately, this may not be the last warning the State Department makes. In the last four years since Mexican President Felipe Calderon began his war against the cartels, the violence has increased and spread as cartels fight each other for territory in their effort to export the lucrative drug to the United States. In places once seen as popular tourist spots, there has been an increase in violence, and more and more innocent people are being caught up on it.

This latest expansion in travel warnings comes with some alarming statistics: The State Department has revealed the number of US born citizens killed in Mexico since the War began has risen, particularly in the last year to a staggering 283 deaths. In 2010, that number was only 111, more so than previous years. They have neither revealed identities of the dead, and interestingly enough they did not include US citizen David Hartley, who was shot last year in September while jet skiing in Falcon Lake in Mexican Water with his wife – though there is many doubts to this whole story, his body hasn’t been recovered yet.

However, there has been no mention from the State Department that any of these US citizens that were killed have any ties to the war, which adds to the growing number of innocent people who seem to go missing and turn up dead. In the last week it’s been reported that mass graves have turned up in the Tamaulipas, with a staggering 177 bodies unearthed since officials began investigating reports of bus passengers being taken from buses and disappearing, though none of the bodies so far have been reported as US citizens.

Bodies that have been unearthed are transported in this truck. Credit - LA Times

It’s just growing evidence that the violence is escalating out of control, and particularly in areas of the Border States that hold popular travelling veins heading towards the border. What’s more disturbing is that after the last year’s massacre of 72 Central American immigrants near San Fernando, Calderon told the world and Central American countries that more would be done to protect common routes through northern Mexico, and justice would prevail, yet still people go missing.

It’s clear the war is getting worse, and it’s clear it will continue to do so, and we may well see further expanded warnings for US citizens and citizens of other countries to Mexico.

For those American expatriates living in Mexico however, it’s another story. Many think that it isn’t as bad as the State Department make it out to be. Many live in many areas popular with American tourists, and believe that they shouldn’t be worried about the violence; however they should be more vigilant than before, according to reports.

In spite of all this, it is obvious that Calderon’s war – the word war now being downplayed by the Mexican Government – is not working.

Image via Wikipedia

His military strategy is counter-productive, and cartels are only increasing in numbers and violence. His war’s strategy is to hit them hard, but there are no signs that the war is abating – even with Calderon’s ‘successes’. Those cartel leaders that are caught are only replaced quickly. For those that have the capacity, they can continue to run them in prison. Further, those drug busts are only a farce; the cartels will continue to traffic more drugs to the US.

Maybe this suggests a more involved role of US Law Enforcement Agencies within Mexico, particularly around the border, to help guard common roads that lead to the United States. This won’t mean they are assisting those who may be traveling in order to illegally enter the US, but means that increased security in the regions that are affected may reduce the many people being caught up in the war, particularly those considered innocent. On the other hand, it may boost confidence in those who are concerned with illegal immigration, who knows?

In the Mexican Drug War it seems, nothing is uncertain however, and it won’t be surprising to see many Americans fleeing the country to escape the escalating violence later on down the line. That’s not to say it will happen, but increasing violence and instability, coupled with corruption will most likely come to head with American citizens at some point therefore its likely the State Department may issue further warnings.

Only time will tell.

Thanks – CNN, LA Times, and the Texas Chronicle.

Related Articles

• U.S. broadens Mexico travel warning (cnn.com)
• Death toll soars for Americans in Mexico (chron.com)