FYI, I was recently in the Baja. There are several army checkpoints where cars are searched for drugs and guns. I found the process a bit intimidating, but the Mexican army was polite and professional. Most of their worries are drugs going north from the southern Baja into Mexicali and Tijuana. The Federales were equally polite and professional, and the old padida (little bribe) is pretty much history.
Slowly, Mexico is joining the rest of North America.
I went through a Mexican army checkpoint driving to Rio Verde in 2013. After we got past the checkpoint, I looked in the back seat and my friend Jorge, who lives and works in San Luis Potosi with me was WHITE.
“Those weren’t soldiers.”