Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

NOGALES - The U.S. State Department has a fresh warning that Americans are in direct danger, of the increasing violence in Mexico.

We've seen this before, but the warnings never included the city of Nogales, Sonora and Rocky Point.

The U.S. State Department said if anyone is traveling to Nogales or Northern Sonora to use extreme caution. The area is known for international drug and human trafficking trades.

This new travel warning replaces the warning from September 10, 2010.

One man from Mexico we talked with said the state has reason for concern.

"You feel scared over there because there's a lot of crime. You cannot walk free because that feeling is someone going to shoot me," said Alex Parrara.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said Americans shouldn't be scared out of traveling to Mexico.

"If you're dumb enough to go somewhere you shouldn't be then you are going to take a chance, but Nogales, Sonora during the day and during the evening hours is a relatively safe place to go," said Sheriff Estrada.

One Tucsonan agrees.

"I think it's not too alarming. Depends on where you are going and how long you are staying there," said Katie Baley.

In the new warning, fears that tourists put themselves at risk for extortion, kidnapping, car-jacking, and even murder if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Parrara said their fears are justified.

"They have guns and jack the car. They're like get out of the car and they take the car," said Parrara.

Meantime, Sheriff Estrada worries this is placing exaggerated thoughts in citizens minds and in turn hurting Nogales, Arizona's economy.

"People that don't know the border, maybe have never been here, but do want to visit Mexico will probably scrap it and say you know I am going somewhere else," said Sheriff Estrada.

If you are still planning on heading across the border for the holiday weekend despite the travel warning, the State Department urges you to only travel during the day, avoid isolated roads, and use toll roads whenever possible.

The new travel warning also cites murder statistics.

Americans killed in Mexico: In 2007, it was 35. Last year, 111 U.S. citizens were killed.