BU Urges Caution South of the Border
State Department travel advisory warns spring breakers to be careful
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore is asking BU students to be particularly careful while traveling during spring break following a State Department warning about violence near the U.S.-Mexican border.
“Please take note of any travel advisories that may be in effect,” Elmore said in an entry on his blog. “Additionally, do not forget the usual tips for smart travel, especially abroad: carry a working mobile phone, travel in groups of two or more, carry only as much cash as necessary, and remain aware of the location of the nearest embassy, consulate, or consular agency.”
Several college and universities have issued similar cautions since the State Department issued a travel alert for Mexico late last month that cited increased military and police confrontations with drug cartels along the border. In addition, robberies, petty thefts, and carjackings have risen in Tijuana and Baja California in the past year.
More than 100,000 spring break vacationers and millions of U.S. citizens visit Mexico each year, and the advisory urged “common-sense precautions” to ensure a safe visit. These include traveling on main roads during daylight hours, remaining within well-known tourist areas of the cities, and not carrying expensive items or wearing valuable jewelry.
The State Department also has a special Web site for spring break travelers in Mexico that provides safety tips and information about recreation, nightlife, and transportation, as well as a list of embassy and consulate contacts to be used in case of emergency.
For information about travel, a list of U.S. embassies abroad, and information about preparing for travel abroad, visit the State Department’s Students Abroad Web site.
Jessica Ullian can be reached at jullian@bu.edu.
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