College students warned of Mexican violence as spring break begins

Colleges and universities are warning their students about violence in Mexico as thousands prepare to head south of the border for spring break.

San Diego State University plans to send individual e-mails to its 30,000-plus students informing them of the State Department warning about violence in numerous cities in Mexico, including Tijuana. Other universities are adding warnings to their websites.

The State Department warning tells people traveling to Mexico to stay in familiar places and avoid areas where drug sales and prostitution flourish.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Comments

[kv]

Only a person with a death wish would go cavorting in Mexico these days...no where is truly safe (no matter WHAT the Mexican govt. or your travel agent tells you..)And if they kill just one tourist as horrifically as they kill their own (beheading etc) , EVERY tourist will be out of Mexico so fast, it will make your head spin...

[ricky]

ups ! too late they are allready down there my cousin with university of INDIANA down in acapulco lets party

[doug campers]

More anti-foreign hype. There are more murders and violence in Southern CA against college students than in Mexico. The drug gangs are fighting mainly each other.

[Marcy]

Oh, please, KV. That's as silly and untrue a fearmongering statement as I've heard. One doesn't hang about border towns or near Acapulco, but there are many Mexican towns that are perfectly fine.

[Carmen]

Ignorant fools!!!!! You think you know it all. "That violence will not affect me", you say. No one is immune.....Hello!!!!

[Alfred Ayala]

The college students have been warned no to go to Mexico. If they do, let them suffer the consequences.
I don't feel soeer for what happens to them, they have been plenty of warnings. They get what they deserve.

fred

[ryan]

Im a long time mexico surfer, and for the past three years, I have stayed away. Some of you may think its super safe and nothing happens and there statitics for it, well do some research. there is banditos, pissed off unemployed policia, desperate robbers, and they all know american college kids have money. Ill tell you one thing, Im not risking it, and im not even getting drunk and acting retarded when im there. But it is mostly near the border, so fly dont drive. Rosarito es no bueno!

[Alfred]

Well, going with 6 guys by motorcycle through Douglas AZ, to Agua Prieta then to Chihuahua, then to Copper Canyon....I then head cross to Baja, cross the Sea of Cortez, head north to Tijuana and back across at San Diego border....the other 6 guys are heading to the Panama Canal....uh, do we have a death wish??? Not at all, living life as you should - to the fullest!

[Guest]

Come on! We all know that these people are savages. Let them kill each other!

[Guest]

Hey, Doug Campers.
Where are there more college students? In Southern California or Mexico? Where do more murders occur? In Southern California or the border cities like Juarez and Tijuana?
What an idiotic statement.
The warning is intended t oinform that foreigners are being targeted in Mexico, like the three that were murdered on sunday; all who were associated with the American Consulate. And that maybe its not a good idea to get drunk and party in a third world country filled with people who have no respect for the rule of law or human life.
Anti-foreign hype...get real.

[FLETCH]

It's just as bad here.Look at L.A.P.D.s Most Wanted (Daily Breeze) and tell me what you see most of.They cause problems from here to New York and then some.

[Allie]

The fact that there is violence in Mexico has nothing to do with college students enjoying their Spring Break in the many beautiful places and beaches of Mexico..it has to do with drug-lords claiming their territory and sending a message to those who owe them, if any Americans are being killed in Mexico, it has not been a case of 'wrong place at the wrong time' it has to do with getting involved in things they shouldn't have. Go to Mexico, have fun and spend your hard earned money on a very well-worth it vacation!!!!

[TheBigPicture]

Give me a break, nothing will happen to any of these college students...Well, unless they try to muscle in on one of the drug cartels while they're down there...

[ryan]

I just want to clarify. tourist destinations like puerto vallarta, acapulco mazatlan are safe yes I agree. The article states though that San Diego Universities are being warned. I myself and friends have been robbed, had cars stolen, told we would go to jail if we didnt pay a fine right then and there, and others have had worse. But mind you, this is between ensanada and SD. I think its wise to think twice about driving down to Rosarito and the like, its so sketchy. The drug lords and the killings are mostly juarez and east tijuana, but tj is five minutes from the sd border. So.......

[Guest]

Does anyone think that these kids are only drinking in mexico? Without a doubt loads are doing coke and smoking Weed.

[Jack Flack]

The state Mexico is in is greatly the fault of the USA and its hunger for illegal recreational drugs.
The Drug war could end tomorrow if the powers that be would just apply common sense rather than kowtowing to the prohibitionists.
Legalize it. Regulate it. Tax it. Deal with it as a health care issue rather than a criminal one.
It worked for alcohol prohibition it will work for this prohibition.

[cms]

I never thought I would advocate for the legal sale of Marijuana but after reading about the violence and abhorrent crimes committed in mexico due to the drug war I feel it is in the countries best interest to legalize the use of marijuana . They have been fighting the war for years and so far they( the cartels ) have been winning.