Universities: Spring breaks south of border to be avoided

[Chris_]

Universities: Spring breaks south of border to be avoided

Going to Mexico for spring break is practically a rite of passage for college students in Arizona, but the state's three public universities want to warn young revelers about stepped-up violence south of the border.

The University of Arizona in Tucson has issued a travel advisory urging students not to go to Mexico, and officials at Arizona State University in Tempe and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff said they have similar plans to warn students. The schools' spring breaks fall on the second or third weeks of March.

In its notice to students, UA cited a travel alert issued by the U.S. Department of State in October warning travelers that crime rates have increased sharply in Tijuana, Juarez and Nogales - all Mexican cities that have experienced public shootouts during the daytime in shopping centers and other public places. The department warned that criminals have followed and harassed Americans driving in border areas.

Expect charges of racism from LULAC in 5...4...3...2...1...

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[NHSparky]

And this is different than the last 30 years exactly how, again?

[Chris_]

And this is different than the last 30 years exactly how, again?

Based on what I hear, the Mexican government is on the verge of collapse due to the growth of the narcotics syndicates, who have assembled their own private armies, and control several of the northern states in the country.......I guess that it isn't pretty down there, I sure as hell wouldn't go there......

doc

[Miss Mia]

Based on what I hear, the Mexican government is on the verge of collapse due to the growth of the narcotics syndicates, who have assembled their own private armies, and control several of the northern states in the country.......I guess that it isn't pretty down there, I sure as hell wouldn't go there......

doc

Yes, the violence on the border of Texas has drastically increased lately. 

[thundley4]

Fox News was hitting on the escalating violence pretty hard this morning, but I think they may have had an ulterior motive.  They were also talking about Phoenix being the kidnapping capitol of the world, now.  Needless to say they brought up the fact that the former governor of AZ is now the head of DHS. 

[Miss Mia]

Fox News was hitting on the escalating violence pretty hard this morning, but I think they may have had an ulterior motive.  They were also talking about Phoenix being the kidnapping capitol of the world, now.  Needless to say they brought up the fact that the former governor of AZ is now the head of DHS. 

The violence on the Texas border has been increasing for years, most especially around Laredo (that's what I hear most about on the news). 

[RightCoast]

I was pick-pocketed in TJ back in 1993 - stupidly left my buddies to go off on my own,.  Pretty funny story that could have ended really bad if I was closer to an alley; it was mostly safe if you stayed on the brightly lit streets.

[Chris_]

And this is different than the last 30 years exactly how, again?

Things in Mexico are very bad now.  The new President has made it his life's work to go after the narcotraficantes and is using the Army and every other resource available to him to do it.  The cartels are hitting back with al they have and innocents are in the crossfire.

But tourist areas are still very safe -- maybe safer than ever with the added Federales.