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The Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez is providing this notice
to U.S. citizens in the area to ensure that they are aware
of a potential threat to their safety.
A notice from the Municipal Secretariat of Public Safety,
dated May 22, 2008, suggests that Ciudad Juarez faces a threat
of unusually high levels of violence during the weekend of
May 23-25, 2008. The Secretariat notice references a widely
circulated e-mail message, from an unidentified source, which
recommended that the public avoid venues such as shopping
centers and nightclubs, and avoid traveling on major city
roads. The Secretariat recommends that the public take the
threat seriously, as it appears to reflect the intentions
of an organized criminal organization.
While there is no evidence of any threats directed against
U.S. citizens or U.S. interests, the Consulate General is
nevertheless recommending that its employees limit their activities
in Ciudad Juarez during the weekend of May 23 to 25.
U.S. citizens are reminded to review the State Department’s
Travel Alert dated April 14, 2008 regarding violence along
the border and the Country Specific Information for Mexico,
both available at the Department’s website listed below. U.S.
citizens are urged to be especially alert to safety and security
conditions when visiting Ciudad Juarez and the State of Chihuahua,
particularly during the weekend of May 23 to 25.
The Consulate General also wishes to advise U.S. citizens
that the Consulate will be closed in honor of Memorial Day
on Monday, May 26. As is always the case, U.S. citizens in
need of emergency assistance from the Consulate outside of
normal business hours may contact the Consulate Duty Officer
at the Mexican cellular telephone number provided at the end
of this message.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S.
Consulate’s website http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/ and
the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov,
where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and
Travel Alerts can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages
U.S. citizens to review “A Safe Trip Abroad," found at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html,
which includes valuable security information for those both
living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on
the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States
and Canada on a regular toll line at 202-501-4444.
Citizens living and residing in Mexico are advised to register
their presence in the country through the U.S. Department
of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov.
U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the
U.S. Embassy via e-mail or by calling the U.S. Consulate General
Ciudad Juarez at (52) (656) 611-3000. This complete message
is available on the Embassy’s website at http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/main.html.
The American Citizens Services Section of the U.S. Consulate
General Juarez, Mexico is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., telephone:
011-52-656-613-1655. After hours, please contact the Consulate’s
on-call Duty Officer at 011-52-656-265-8484.
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