Warning puts the brakes on travel plans
Sarah Zavala
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
The U.S. Department of State issued a travel alert urging all citizens to exercise caution if traveling to Mexico, possibly affecting Western Illinois University students and staff during spring break, and the Western Illinois Spanish Experience-Mexico program.
The travel alert has been active since Oct. 15, 2008 and does not expire until Aug. 20, 2009.
Although the drug and violence problems that prompted the alert occur all over the country of Mexico, violence is mainly seen along the border.
According to the State Department's 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Mexico is the main foreign supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamines to the United States. An estimated 90 percent of cocaine enters the U.S. through Mexico as well. To curb the violence and drug trafficking, Mexican officials placed more troops along the boarder as of late February.
"The tips issued by the U.S. Department of State are common sense advice that we want all of our students to consider and take seriously, no matter their destination, international or domestic," said Vice President of Student Services Garry Johnson in a statement on Western Illinois' Web site. University leaders understand that everything that can be done in Mexico and the U.S. to stop this drug problem is being done.
"We are simply asking that individuals use caution and follow the advice posted by the U.S.
Department of State," Johnson said.
The WISE-Mexico trip has not been canceled. University officials want the study abroad programs to run as usual, but are stressing the importance of safety.
"There has been a decrease in numbers as far as participation goes," said Spanish instructor Margarita Obregon. "However, in my opinion I feel the blame goes more to the economy than the drug problem."
Obregon has been running the WISE-Mexico program for five years and understands that safety is an issue, but she feels that there are possibilities of violence wherever one travels, not just in Mexico. Obregon still encourages students to study abroad.
The travel alert has been active since Oct. 15, 2008 and does not expire until Aug. 20, 2009.
Although the drug and violence problems that prompted the alert occur all over the country of Mexico, violence is mainly seen along the border.
According to the State Department's 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Mexico is the main foreign supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamines to the United States. An estimated 90 percent of cocaine enters the U.S. through Mexico as well. To curb the violence and drug trafficking, Mexican officials placed more troops along the boarder as of late February.
"The tips issued by the U.S. Department of State are common sense advice that we want all of our students to consider and take seriously, no matter their destination, international or domestic," said Vice President of Student Services Garry Johnson in a statement on Western Illinois' Web site. University leaders understand that everything that can be done in Mexico and the U.S. to stop this drug problem is being done.
"We are simply asking that individuals use caution and follow the advice posted by the U.S.
Department of State," Johnson said.
The WISE-Mexico trip has not been canceled. University officials want the study abroad programs to run as usual, but are stressing the importance of safety.
"There has been a decrease in numbers as far as participation goes," said Spanish instructor Margarita Obregon. "However, in my opinion I feel the blame goes more to the economy than the drug problem."
Obregon has been running the WISE-Mexico program for five years and understands that safety is an issue, but she feels that there are possibilities of violence wherever one travels, not just in Mexico. Obregon still encourages students to study abroad.
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