Thousands of college students will head south for a Mexican spring break this weekend despite a string of homicides in Sonora, including three in and near Nogales.
Most students will avoid Nogales and head farther west to the less dangerous beach towns of Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, San Carlos and Guaymas, where the U.S. Consulate has stationed officers around the clock for the 40,000 students they're expecting.
Unlike last year — when the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Mexico's border region because of increased violence in the area related to the drug trade — the agency released a series of "know before you go" recommendations for the 100,000 U.S. students they expect to visit Mexico this month.
The agency has placed a note in its standing information sheet for Mexico that visitors should remain alert while in Nogales and other border cities where officials have seen an increase in violence.
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"It's not like it's (the violence) all gone if there is not a public announcement," said Angela Aggeler, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs.
In the state of Sonora, there have been 11 reported homicides in 2006, including three in northern Sonora in the past 10 days. On Feb. 28, a 43-year-old businessman was shot and killed at his mechanic's shop in Magdalena de Kino, south of Nogales. On Tuesday in Nogales, a 30-year-old man from Sinaloa was shot to death on the side of the highway, and on Wednesday, police found a 38-year-old bar owner dead from gunshot wounds.
A recent government study found that Nogales is the 19th- most violent city, per capita, in Mexico — Agua Prieta to the east is 17th on the list.
Benjamin Ousley, consular section chief in Nogales, said Sonora remains a safe area for tourists because officials in the state recognize the economic value of keeping tourists safe. He said they haven't seen any violence lately in Puerto Peñasco.
"It's not a narcotic-trafficking area," Ousley said. "It's really a remarkably safe area, especially at spring break."
The spring break recommendations from the State Department are essentially the same ones parents have given to college students for ages: obey the law, don't drink too much, don't drink and drive, don't do drugs, take care of your valuables.
James M. Bredeck, vice consul for the U.S. Consulate in Nogales, said almost all of the problems, accidents, and emergencies there involve vehicles.
"When you get to Rocky Point, park the car and don't drive," Bredeck said.
He added some general advice: "Don't do anything in Rocky Point you wouldn't do at home."
Commander Ramses Arce Fierro of Sonora's Public Safety Police said the agency will station an additional 30 agents and five members of the assault team in Puerto Peñasco during spring break.
Police in Nogales, Ariz., will also be on the lookout during spring break, said Police Chief John Kissinger. The department works closely with its counterpart in Sonora, and all law enforcement agencies in the border region have a linked communication system with live radio access, he said.
The biggest concern is alcohol use, and Nogales police will have special enforcement details at the border during spring break, Kissinger said. While the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, it's illegal for a person under 21 to have alcohol in his or her body when crossing back into the United States.
Luis Katsurayama, tourism coordinator for northwestern Sonora, said the number of spring-breakers continues to increase each year, and he expects the same this year. Katsurayama estimates 90 percent occupancy for hotels and resorts in the city during the week.
He said Puerto Peñasco offers tourists a safe environment. In past years, the town has seen arrests of college students for being drunk and fighting but nothing major, he said.
"The tourists that want to vacation, to have fun, welcome," Katsurayama said. "Those who want to look for trouble, it's better that you don't come; we don't want problems."
Lindsey Haga of the Mexico Tours and Travel agency in Tucson said only a few rooms remain at the Baja Hotel and Cantina in Puerto Peñasco despite some calls from worried parents or questions from students on behalf of parents.
"It's not preventing a lot of people from coming," Haga said.
Kim Shipp, a 20-year-old UA sophomore, said she's planning on spending part of spring break in Puerto Peñasco, relaxing and hanging out on the beach. It will be her first trip there, but Shipp has her own formula for a safe vacation.
"Make sure you know who you got your drink from and don't overdo it," she said.
Spring break safety tips
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● Always stay in groups.
● Drink moderately and responsibly.
● Don't drink and drive.
● Don't use illegal drugs.
● Don't bring illegal drugs or guns into Mexico.
● Carry a card with basic medical information.
● Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
● Wear sunscreen or cover up in the sun.
● Buy car insurance for Mexican travel before you leave.
● Make sure to have an emergency phone number written down:
● 911 service on U.S. cell phones will work in Puerto Peñasco, San Carlos and Guaymas.
● The U.S. Consulate in Puerto Peñasco. During business hours call (01-631) 311-8150. After hours and weekends, call (01-631) 302-3342.
● The Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing is closed from midnight to 6 a.m.
Source: UAPD, Campus Health Service
