The U.S. State Department and universities across the country are warning college students heading to Mexico for spring break of an extreme increase in drug-related murders and chaos south of the border.
According to the State Department, more than 100,000 American students travel to resorts throughout Mexico during spring break each year. Many of these people have decided to cancel their spring break trips because of the murders.
The State Department issued an alert on Feb. 20 urging U.S. citizens to be attentive to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region.
According to the alert, ""the greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican civilians and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places.""
In response to the State Department's warning, many universities are urging their students not to follow through with their spring break plans in Mexico.
UW-Madison student Paul Riemer is among the many people who have decided at the last minute to cancel their trip to Mexico because of all the warnings.
""It means a lot to my parents that I don't go on this trip,"" Riemer said. ""Although I still have permission from them to go, the fact that they are so concerned made me take it upon myself to make my own decision to cancel my trip.""
UW-Madison Health Services has even sent an e-mail to students encouraging a safe Spring Break and telling students to ""do their homework before traveling to Mexico.""
Many students have taken it upon themselves to stay informed about the dangers in Mexico.
""I have been checking the news, researching on the Internet and listening to all of my peers,"" Chelsea Perzov, a UW-Madison sophomore who is traveling to Acapulco, Mexico Saturday said. ""I am trying my best to stay informed and remain aware of the dangers in Mexico.""
In one circulating e-mail that has been the center of much discussion on campus, the sender writes, ""What the American public allegedly does not know at this point (according to my friend) is that the drug cartels have offered an ultimatum to Mexican intelligence. Although I do not know the specific terms of this ultimatum, I have heard that if the terms are not met by the end of this week, the drug cartels have threatened to begin targeting young spring-breaking Americans next week with kidnappings and shootings in the three biggest hot-spots of Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Acapulco.""
Though many of the e-mails tend to be rumor, many students have taken the ""hearsay"" seriously and plan to take extra precautions this Spring Break.
""We're going to travel in large groups at all times, never get in cabs alone and we will of course not be engaging in any types of business with the local Mexicans,"" said Emily Bader, a UW sophomore traveling to Acapulco this break.
Bianchi-Rossi, an organization that runs spring break trips, has sent many e-mails reassuring students that it is still safe to travel to Mexico and has encouraged their student representatives to do the same.
Even with all of the alerts and warnings, most of the students still plan go through with their Spring Break plans.
""I'm still going to Acapulco, and I plan to have an amazing trip despite all the recent chaos,"" said UW-Madison sophomore Kelly Klein.
For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, see the Mexico Country Specific Information at: travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html.
