On June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, will be required to present one of the travel documents listed below.

Many of these documents are already available, and obtaining one now will ensure that you are ready on June 1, 2009, when they will be required.

21. S. Passport – This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land and sea.

Trusted Traveler Program Cards – NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards can speed your entry into the U.S. and are issued only to pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The cards are valid for use at land or sea; the NEXUS card can be used in airports with a NEXUS kiosk.

From the U.S. Department of State Website:
www.Travel.State.Gov

This information is current as of today, Thu Apr 23 12:19:49 2009.

Mexico : February 20, 2009

This Travel Alert updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. It supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 15, 2008, and expires on August 20, 2009.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including thousands who cross the land border every day for study, tourism or business), violence in the country has increased recently. It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico

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 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 recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved. U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States.

21. S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which generally are more secure. Occasionally, the U.S. Embassy and consulates advise their employees as well as private U.S. citizens to avoid certain areas, abstain from driving on certain roads because of dangerous conditions or criminal activity, or recommend driving during daylight hours only. When warranted, U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to or within parts of Mexico without prior approval from their supervisors. When this happens, the Embassy or the affected consulate will alert the local U.S. citizen Warden network and post the information on their respective websites, indicating the nature of the concern and the expected time period for which the restriction will remain in place. U.S. citizen visitors are encouraged to stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and should check with their cellular provider prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks. Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

Violence Along the U.S. - Mexico Border

Mexican drug cartels are engaged in an increasingly violent conflict - both among themselves and with Mexican security services - for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. The US Mission in Mexico currently restricts non-essential travel within the state of Durango and all parts of the state of Coahuila south of Mexican Highways 25 and 22 and the Alamos River for US Government employees assigned to Mexico. This restriction was implemented in light of the recent increase in assaults, murders, and kidnappings in those two states. The situation in northern Mexico remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot be predicted.

A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the rates of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana and northern Baja California. Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues. Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana.

The situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008. Additionally, this city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and 1,650 carjackings in 2008. U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news reports. A recent series of muggings near the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez targeted applicants for U.S. visas. Visa and other service seekers visiting the Consulate are encouraged to make arrangements to pay for those services using a non-cash method.

21. S. citizens are urged to be alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region.

Consulates:

Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512. http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/.

Children: Beginning June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizens under the age of 16 traveling with a school, religious or other youth group, may present a birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, naturalization certificate or Certificate of Canadian Citizenship. Birth certificate can be an original or certified copy.

21. S. Passport Card: This is a new, limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet and costs less than a U.S. Passport. It is only valid for travel by land and sea.

This is a limited-use international travel document valid for entry into the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, per the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. It is not valid for international air travel.

Cost: $45 (Age 16 & Older)
$35 (Under Age 16)
$20 (If requested with a new or renewed passport)

Validity: 10 years for adults
5 years for children under age 16
Issued by: U.S. Department of State
Limitations: Not valid for international air travel

Info: www.travel.state.gov

LSS and MQI requires students over 15 to have a passport or passport card.  Those 15 and under may bring the original or certified copy of their birth certificates.  Due to past experiences and difficulties at the border for past groups, PHOTO COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!

From the WHTI Website as of May 1, 2009

For more information, go to www.getyouhome.gov

We at LSS or MQI do NOT recommend trips at this time to: Ciudad Juarez, Durango, Chihuahua City or Tijuana. At this time officials in Nuevo Laredo are announcing decreased crime rates of 75% according to our local news. Two girls were recently missing across the border after going out to party and have been returned. Their case is being investigated as suspicious. The priest gone missing and killed was found to be murdered by his lover. We have been over the border, as have some of our teams, as recently as this week (April 19 - 23) with no incidents. All our trips went well last summer season and Christmas season with no incidents as well. For any questions, we welcome your phone calls and emails. Go to our Contact Us page for contact information.

21. S. citizens have been officially warned. Visit boystown at your own risk. (Boys Town is an area in Nuevo Laredo known to be rife with drugs, violence and prostitution of all types. - LSS) "Common sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate businesses and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable," states a travel alert issured Friday by the U.S.State Department. Travel alerts address short-term conditions in other courtries that could jeopordize the saftey of U.S. citizens. The alert expires August 20.
It details recent violence along the U.S. Mexico border and notes recent gun battles between the Mexican army and drug cartels. "Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez." the alert states. "During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area."
It specifically states that criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana and Matamoros. Officials in both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo said the alert is too broad and shhould not be lumped together with other border cities. "So far, they just seem to blanket Laredo with the other border cities," said Mayor Raul Salinas. "To some extent, it's unfair. Laredo has been relatively peacful compared to other border cities. Our city is a safe city." Rafael Luque Castillo, director of public information for the city of Nuevo Laredo, labeled the travel alert as "unfounded," saying that the problem of violence is not the same in every border community. "The U.S. state department should be more precise with its alerts. The violence is ocurring in Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana...in Reynosa and Monterrey."
Miguel Conchas, Laredo Chamber of Commerce CEO and president, said the stigma still remains because of the high crime rates seen in Nuevo Laredo a few years ago. "The perception of what happened years ago continues," he said. "Certainly, the level of crime across the country of Mexico is on the rise." But, Conchas said, most of the crime is concentrated in other cities. "People ought to be smart and stay away from certain areas of the city (Nuevo Laredo)," he said, "But they cleaned it up. They really beautified the city. The mayor has done a lot of work to bring a lot of security to the area. Especially with the festivities that are going on now, I hope we'll gradually bring back a positive image for this city," Conchas added.

Quoted from an article from the Laredo Morning Times, Saturday, February 21, 2009. Written by Jule Daffern

We here at LSS and MQI, while taking into concideration that we want the work of the Lord to go forward, especially in the love of our hearts, Mexico, also desire that it continue as safely as possible. We strive to keep up to date on all of the issues going on in the country and as it pertains to our area of ministry - the sister cities of Laredo and Nuevo Lareo, in an honest way. We understand the concerns of the people who are coming to minister with us, especially parents who have young people coming. We want to assure you, we check on alerts and advisories frequently, as well as talking to people we have associations with here in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, including law enforcement friends we know. We would be the first ones to tell you not to come if it were not safe! For right now, we have had recent groups go over the border, not being led by us, who have reported no problems. We also go over all the time to minister with no problems, and we LIVE in Laredo! We have the usual activity for a city our size and life continues as it does in most cities in Texas, or for that matter, the nation. We encourage you to go to our "Contact Us" page and call us, be it group leaders, participants or parents, and we would love to be able to discuss any current conditions or any reports you may have heard. We urge you not to depend on hearsay you may have gotten from friends or relatives who aren't informed. We truly want to give you the most accurate, up-to-date information that we can.
Rick Hall
President of Mex Quest Int. Director, Laredo Stepping Stone

U.S. side of the border at Puente 1

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