[ Photo: Downtown Nogales, bereft of tourists ] My mother-in-law is visiting us in Tucson, and just

[ Photo: Downtown Nogales, bereft of tourists travel agent russia ] My mother-in-law travel agent russia is visiting us in Tucson, and just this morning I was discussing with her the question of whether she wanted to visit Nogales, the Mexican border town that's an easy 60-mile drive from our home. Nogales used to be a very popular spot for people in southern Arizona, but no more. There are two main reasons. One is a basic fear of violence, though lots of people still think that Nogales is relatively safe, provided you don't wander off too far from downtown, or plan to spend the night bar-hopping. But two, and perhaps the strongest: Given widespread concern travel agent russia about travel to Mexico by Americans, downtown Nogales -- once bustling with life and with vibrant shops and restaurants -- has become just plain sad. The friendly shopkeepers, those still in business, put a brave face on it, but the fact is that downtown Nogales looks dead and forlorn. Most of the joy has gone out of the place. So we won't visit today, travel agent russia and that's a reason. It's just too damn sad. But frankly, travel agent russia it's also just too damn dangerous. (If you're thinking about Nogales, ignore travel agent russia clueless happy-talk travel reviews like this one. In fact, according to the State Department, Nogales has become one of the new centers of border-town violence, with increasing incidents travel agent russia of daytime street shootouts. And if you want Mexican pottery and the other sort of stuff people buy there, here's a clue: You get a better price at Mexican pottery, furniture and curio shops in Tucson and in Tubac, Az. And you don't have to schlep your stuff through travel agent russia Customs.) The violence has affected U.S. tourism in Mexico (and especially in the border regions), though cheap prices and desperate marketing have drawn lots of new tourists from Brazil and other places where street violence and other crime is a lot more common than it is in the U.S. The safety situation in mexico is not getting any better, judging travel agent russia from a new travel warning issued travel agent russia by the U.S. state Department. [ UPDATE FEB. 21 -- A woman in El Paso, Texas, travel agent russia was injured by a bullet apparently fired during travel agent russia a shootout in Juarez , Mexico, which is 2 miles away. Only high-powered assault rifles can do that. ] Alarmed by the growing violence caused by drug-traffic gangs in Mexico, the State Department has issued the strongest warning to date to discourage Americans from visiting Mexico. Here's the full text of the current State Department travel warning for Mexico. The Mexican government, incidentally, reacted strongly to this. The AP reports that Mexico's top domestic security official called the warning, which covers almost half of the states of Mexico, "ridiculous" travel agent russia and "out of proportion." [ UPDATE FEB. 26 -- 22 passengers on a Carnival Cruise shore excursion were robbed at gunpoint on Thursday in Puerto Vallarta. Here's a link .) The new State Department warning is definitely harsh. "According to the most recent homicide figures published by the Mexican government, 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, with 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone," it says. "While travel agent russia most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs [transnational criminal organizations], innocent persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011. "Gun battles between rival TCOs or with Mexican authorities have taken place in towns and cities in many parts of Mexico, especially in the border region. Gun battles have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues, such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. TCOs use stolen cars and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares, preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend that you defer travel to the areas indicated in this Travel Warning and to exercise extreme caution when traveling throughout the northern border region." Here is the text of the warning's section on the Mexican travel agent russia border towns and other northern regions: Baja California (north) : Tijuana is a major city/travel destination in the Northern portion of Baja California -see attached map to identify its exact location: You should exercise caution in the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. Targeted TCO assassinations continue to take place in Baja California. Turf battles between criminal groups proliferated and resulted in numerous assassinations in areas of Tijuana frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have occurred during daylight hours throughout the city. In one such incident, an U.S. citizen was shot and seriously wounded. According to the Government travel agent russia of Mexico, as of August 2011, the city s murder rate was approximately 20 per 100,000. During travel agent russia 2011, 34 U.S. citizens were the victims of homicide in the state. In the majority travel agent russia of these cases, the killings appeared to be related to narcotics trafficking. Baja California (South) : Cabo San Lucas is a major city/travel destination in the Southern portion of Baja California -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect. Chihuahua: Juarez and Chihuahua are the major cities/travel destinations in Chihuahua -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Chihuahua. The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, is of special concern. Ciudad Juarez has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico. The Mexican government reports that more than 3,100 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in 2010 and 1,933 were killed in 2011. Three persons associated with the Consulate General were murdered in March 2010. The state of Chihuahua is normally entered through Columbus, NM, and the El Paso, Fabens and Fort Hancock, TX, ports-of-entry. There have been incidents of narcotics-related violence in the vicinity of the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua. Coahuila : You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila. The State of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crimes and narcotics-related murders. TCOs continue to compete for territory and coveted border crossings to the United travel agent russia States. travel agent russia In August 2011, suspected members of TCOs and police exchange fire near a crowded soccer stadium in Torreón causing panic. The city of Torreón travel agent russia had a murder rate of more than 40 per 100,000 population between January and August of 2011. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. Durango: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Durango. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of narcotics-related murders in the State of Durango increased dramatically. In 2011 several areas in the state continue to experience high rates of violence and remained volatile and unpredictable. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. Nuevo Leon : Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in Nuevo Leon -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Nuevo Leon, except the metropolitan area of Monterrey where you should exercise caution. The level of violence and insecurity in Monterrey has increased, illustrated by an attack on a popular local casino in August that resulted in 52 deaths. One U.S. citizen was injured in that incident. Local police and private patrols do not have the capacity to deter criminal elements or respond effectively to security incidents. As a result of a Department of State assessment of the overall security situation, on September 10, 2010, the Consulate General in Monterrey became a partially travel agent russia unaccompanied post with no minor dependents of USG personnel permitted. USG personnel serving at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and may not travel outside the San Pedro municipal boundaries between travel agent russia midnight travel agent russia and 6 a.m. Although there have been no such incidents in 2011, in 2010 TCOs kidnapped guests out of reputable hotels in the downtown Monterrey area, blocking off adjoining streets to prevent law enforcement response. travel agent russia TCOs have also regularly attacked local government facilities, prisons and police stations, and engaged in public shootouts with the military and between themselves. TCOs have used vehicle born improvised explosive devices against military and law enforcement units. Pedestrians and innocent bystanders have been killed in these incidents. San Luis Potosi : You should defer non-essential travel to the state of San Luis Potosi, except the city of San Luis Potosi where you should exercise travel agent russia caution. The entire stretch of highway 57D in San Luis Potosi and portions of the state east of highway 57D towards Tamaulipas are particularly dangerous. In February 2011, one U.S. government employee was killed and another wounded when they were attacked in their U.S. government vehicle on Highway 57 near Santa Maria del Rio. Cartel violence and highway lawlessness are a continuing security concern. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. Sinaloa : Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify travel agent russia its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan where you should exercise caution particularly late at night and in the early morning. travel agent russia One of Mexico's most powerful TCOs is based in the state of Sinaloa. With the excep