Mexico Travel Warning October 2014

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

Thinking of the expats entering through the Texas border...

Tamaulipas: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Tampico are major cities/travel destinations in Tamaulipas - Defer non-essential travel to the state of Tamaulipas. All U.S. government employees are prohibited from personal travel on Tamaulipas highways outside of Matamoros, Reynosa, and Nuevo Laredo due to the risks posed by armed robbery and carjacking, particularly along the northern border. Traveling outside of cities after dark is not recommended. While no highway routes through Tamaulipas are considered safe, the highways between Matamoros-Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa-Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria-Tampico, Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo, and Monterrey-Reynosa, are more prone to criminal activity. In Matamoros, U.S. government employees are subject to movement restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m.

Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, and Ciudad Victoria have experienced numerous gun battles and attacks with explosive devices in the past year. Violent conflicts between rival criminal elements and/or the Mexican military can occur in all parts of the region and at all times of the day. The number of reported kidnappings for Tamaulipas is among the highest in Mexico, and the number of U.S. citizens reported to the consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo as being kidnapped, abducted, or disappearing involuntarily in the first half of 2014 has also increased. In May 2014, a Mexican state and federal security initiative was announced focused on combating increased violence in the state.

stay in your kitchen and off your computer

Pedro wrote:stay in your kitchen and off your computer

Pedro,that's actually one of the more informative and timely state department warnings that I've seen,maybe it's you that should give your computer a rest.

yet people i know keep crossing there even on motorcycles

Pedro wrote:yet people i know keep crossing there even on motorcycles

That's what people need to hear. But there are people on this board concerned about driving down in their motorhome alone pulling another vehicle, if I understand. They get lost, don't always stay on the toll roads...that's concerning. I'd feel terrible if something happened to them. At least inform them and let them decide how risky they feel.

It's nice to know there's no travel restrictions or warnings here.

so back at you...go make a pizza in your kitchen and take a loooong time. Or go and see what the new chef at Perry's has to offer and then report back to us.

There's nothing new here is there? This warning has been posted for quite a while.

Pedro wrote:yet people i know keep crossing there even on motorcycles

I know people that skydive. That doesn't make it any less dangerous without taking precautions.

Mainecoons wrote:There's nothing new here is there?  This warning has been posted for quite a while.

there have been warnings about the area for several years ever since the zetas split from the gulf cartel. by and large ferners are left alone.but yes precautions are good as a standard.

Pedro wrote:by and large ferners are left alone.

Just in the last couple of weeks 2 or 3 posters here and over on ToB have reported being robbed in the Nuevo Laredo area.

Exactly!! People need to be aware.

Is anyone else suspicious of timeliness of these State Dep't. warnings?  Seems to me that they send them out every year at "snow bird season".... to keep U.S. money at home in the U.S.A.?

oatsie wrote:Is anyone else suspicious of timeliness of these State Dep't. warnings?  Seems to me that they send them out every year at "snow bird season".... to keep U.S. money at home in the U.S.A.?

i think yer on to something-SNORK!

I do not think the situation is great right now and on top of the cartels doing their usual , there is social unrest and none of the news are coming out.
People need to be aware and decide for themselves but it is not a bad idea to read the warning and know there is a whole lot more going on.

The State Dept. is just covering their butts, just in case "aaaanything" would happen to an American citizen, that would cause someone to lose their job (like in the Secret Service), because that someone "hadn't done their job". Some job protection...some good intentions.
The rest is  as CBob says.