Posted on 09/23/2004 2:21:48 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros issued a warning this week that Reynosa has become dangerous for American citizens, but Reynosa officials countered that their city is safe for any visitors, whether foreign or domestic.
The warning came in response to months of complaints by U.S. citizens of assaults, robberies, abductions and forced multiple withdrawals from ATM machines — known popularly in Mexico as the Secuestro Express or Robo Express — reportedly involving Reynosa police officers.
"In the last six months, we have heard about problems, not in Matamoros, not in Ciudad Victoria, but in Reynosa, because of the complaints about police involvement in criminal acts," said John Naland, the U.S. consul.
The U.S. consul argued that there was no alternative but to alert Tamaulipas state government officials about what is happening in the sprawling border city.
"If the city police are mixed up in the problem, who are you going to talk to?" said Naland, in response to charges that no complaints or reports had been made to Reynosa city officials. "The whole world is talking about this (crime/incidents in Reynosa) but the problem goes on. … They need to create public security, not public relations."
Naland said that the cases are not isolated and that an investigation is under way that will submit documentation to Tamaulipas officials in order to resolve the situation.
On Tuesday, the U.S. consulate in Matamoros issued an alert for American citizens to avoid visiting Reynosa because of the high risk of becoming victims of assault, kidnapping and other crimes, according to the press release.
The City Comptroller and Internal Affairs office of Reynosa is the agency charged with fielding complaints about public functionaries in the city and meting out sanctions. Its director, Victor Manuel Olvera, said the total number of complaints in the last three years from U.S. citizens amounted to only 11.
"In 2002, we took in 211 complaints, of which two were from American citizens. In 2003 there were seven, and so far in 2004 they have received two. Eight police officers have been suspended and one was fired on account of this," Olvera said.
Olvera said visitors should continue to tell his agency about any such incidents so the situation does not continue.
Angélica Arredondo, director of Reynosa’s tourist bureau, downplayed the warning and questioned the information it was based on.
"This is a fearful assertion on the part of the consul. There have been instances in which complaints have been made (to Reynosa officials) — and if they have to fire someone (who committed a crime), they do," Arredondo said. "If someone just goes and tells their consulate about the harm they suffered, that will not happen."
Communication, commerce and close ties between McAllen and Reynosa dates back many years. The McAllen Economic Development Corporation is one of the organizations that has maintained direct contact with Reynosa officials.
MEDC marketing director Nancy Boultinghouse said that even though she could not comment without learning more specifics about the extent of the problem, up to now visiting Reynosa has never seemed dangerous.
"We go over there all the time, even though that doesn’t mean that this kind of thing isn’t happening," she said, adding that she had gotten notice that such warnings have been issued for other cities in Mexico.
"This is not the first time that (warnings) have been issued, nor is (Reynosa) the first city," Boultinghouse said. "We are going to try to get more information about this."
Arredondo said that efforts to keep visitors safe have intensified in recent days and she downplayed the warning, calling it "alarmist."
"The local authorities have done things to make it safer," Arredondo said. "They have taken steps to improve interaction between the police and tourists."
Arredondo was confident that because of the measures taken to improve security, the number of Winter Texan visitors would not diminish this fall and winter, despite the warning.
"The Winter Texans are our biggest contact (with the U.S. community)," she said. "They can get without risk to the most popular tourist spots and we’ll protect them."
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Gladys Salomón Black covers immigration and special assignments for La Frontera. You can reach her at (956) 683-4846.
The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros issued a warning this week that Reynosa has become dangerous for American citizens, but Reynosa officials countered that their city is safe for any visitors, whether foreign or domestic.
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See Bush's policy in Mexico is an utter failure too. There are no go zones. They surely can not have an election under these circumstance.
Matamoros = "Moor Killer" < |:)~
Mexico is in a win-win situation. You go to Mexico and they rob you. They come here illegally and they rob you.
Mexico is not our friend.
Nuevo Progresso outside of Brownsville is the only border town I would visit from Texas.
The only Mexican town I would feel relatively safe in is, San Antonio, Texas.
"The only Mexican town I would feel relatively safe in is, San Antonio, Texas."
Nuevo Progresso is safer than San Antonio;^)
You are probably right, I haven't lived in San Antonio in over 30 years.
Wonderful. I wonder if our friend President Fox intends to do anything about it.
The closest Mexican Town to me is Los Angeles, in Kalifornia! And it is not friendly or safe to visit.
And the politicians do the same thing either way - make an announcement and sit on their butts. They're getting rich off this stuff, why should they do anything. Did anyone think they actually were elected to do something for America? Silly people.
Well, Denver is a nice Mexican town....they even have a couple of decent ski resorts nearby.
But the smog is pretty bad in Denver.... even for a Mexican town.
Absolutely! He has said illegal immigration to Mexico must stop! ROTFLMPO.
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