Dear UCLA Students:

If you are considering travel to Mexico during spring break, it is imperative for you to be aware that continuing crime and violence in various parts of the country has caused the U.S. Department of State to issue a travel warning for Mexico.  

 

In view of the warning, the UCLA administration strongly recommends that UCLA students avoid travel to any Mexican city near the U.S. border or neighboring areas during spring break or at any time in the near future.  In addition, travelers should make themselves aware of the risks of travel in any area of the country. Both drug-related violence and a number of other types of violent crime have shown major increases.

 

In addition, 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.

In view of the situation in Mexico, the State Department has authorized the departure of the dependents of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros until April 12. It reports further that large firefights have taken place in towns and cities across Mexico, mostly in northern Mexico, including Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Chihuahua City, Nogales, Matamoros, Reynosa and Monterrey. 

 

Please continue to monitor the State Department website for updated travel warnings and alerts. This site also contains information for safe spring break travel in Mexico.

 

In addition, the University of Arizona has produced the publication "Going to Mexico" that offers valuable information.

As administrators, we understand that your initial reaction may be, "This won't happen to me." While we sincerely hope that is the case, we strongly urge you to visit the State Department website and to give serious consideration to the information provided prior to making the decision to travel.

Whatever plans you pursue for spring break, we hope that you will proceed in a safe and judicious manner and, equally importantly, that you have a supremely enjoyable time away from class.

Sincerely,

 

Robert J. Naples

Associate Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students