This is so scary. Years ago when I was in college, we took a field trip to Columbus (the class was studying Pancho Villa). We walked across the border into Palomas and had a beer at a little place there. It was a sleepy, tiny town. I really hate what is happening. Plus, I have family in NM and I worry about them.
Yes Palomas was a sleepy little town and still appears that way at first glance but the violence of the drug war has been openly evident there for the past couple of years. Police, Mayor, other authorities have been murdered, replaced and some fled to U.S. to escape murder. The prominent dentist in town where most Americans went for dental work was kidnapped and I believe his body was found later- in any case he was not released and that was months ago. The sound of gunfire from Palomas is common and many have been murdered there, these were not the first decapitations by cartel, just the most boldy displayed.