Warden Message - July 17, 2009
Warden Message - Northwest Chihuahua
This Warden Message is being issued to inform American citizens traveling to or residing in the Mexican state of Chihuahua of a new spike in cartel-related violence around the state. Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or who they otherwise view to be a threat to their organization, regardless of the individuals’ citizenship. The U.S. Consulate General urges all Americans to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Ciudad Juarez and within the state Chihuahua.
The Consulate General specifically recommends that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to the northwest quarter of the state of Chihuahua due to increasing drug cartel-related violence. This area begins in Puerto Palomas and runs south to the municipalities of Namiquipa and Madera, and west to the Chihuahua state boundary with Sonora; it includes the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes and surrounding communities. There has been a series of kidnappings and murders in the area. The Columbus port-of-entry is often used to cross into this region from the United States. U.S. Government personnel have been advised to avoid non-essential travel to this area.
The Consulate General also continues to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to the Guadalupe Bravo area southeast of Ciudad Juarez due to ongoing drug related violence in the area. This region is also referred to locally as the “Valle de Juarez” and begins in San Isidro and runs southeast through Guadalupe and Praxedis and ends in Porvenir. The Fabens and Fort Hancock ports-of-entry are often used to cross into this region from the United States. U.S. Government personnel have been instructed to avoid travel to this area. There have been more incidents of violence affecting U.S. citizens in the Guadalupe Bravo area since the first Warden Message on this area was issued in February.
U.S. citizen victims of crime or their families are urged to contact the American Citizens Services unit of the Consulate for advice or assistance. During regular work hours, the American Citizens Services unit of the Consulate can be reached at (656) 227-3411, by fax at (656) 227-3264 or by email at
cdjamericancitizens@state.gov. After hours, in the event of an emergency only, the duty officer may be reached at (656) 327-7877.
Americans residing or traveling in Chihuahua are encouraged to register and update their contact information at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez. Registration may be done online and can be done in advance of travel. Information on registering may be found at the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website:
https://travelregistration.state.gov U.S. citizens should also consult the Country Specific Information for Mexico and the Travel Alert for Mexico at the Department’s website:
http://travel.state.gov.
Certainly wasn't pleased to see this message since we are planning on traveling through Chihuahua in mid August!
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