San Diego State University officials say the U.S. State Department's recent travel warning for Mexico will not effect the school's academic programs in Tijuana and Mexico.
The State Department warning says U.S. citizens should avoid travel to parts of the states of Durango, Cohuila and Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located.
Al Sweedler helps direct SDSU's international programs. He says SDSU does not have students in those areas.
He says there's no reason to call people home from other places in Mexico or cancel classes in Tijuana.
"Since the main incident that triggered this travel warning occurred very far away in Juarez, across the border from El Paso, there hasn't been anything similar in Tijuana and there seems to be a lessening of violence."
Sweedler says he'll respond accordingly if the situation changes.
University officials sent an email to all students urging them to follow the State Department's Mexico warning in advance of Spring Break.
Email from John L. Browning, SDSU chief of Police
Subject: Mexico Travel Warning Update
The Department of State has issued a Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the security situation in the country. The U.S. Government has authorized the voluntary departure of dependents of U.S. personnel from our consulates in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros until April 12. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Alert dated February 22, 2010, and announces updates to security incidents.
Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states and advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution. Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or whom they otherwise view as a threat to their organizations. These attacks include the abduction and murder of two resident U.S. citizens in Chihuahua.
The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, is of special concern where three U.S. Consulate employees were killed over the weekend. The U.S. Consulate General recommends that American citizens defer non-essential travel to the Guadalupe Bravo area southeast of Ciudad Juarez and to the northwest quarter of the state of Chihuahua including the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes and surrounding communities. In both areas, American citizens have been victims of drug-related violence.
The University Police Department concurs with the U.S. State Department recommendation that American citizens defer non-essential travel to Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua, Mexico. We also encourage students who plan to spring break in Mexico to heed the State Department warnings related to non-essential travel.
