Is this another thing that we have to look forward to? Another "cultural" thing?
I seems to be a common practice south of the border to kidnap for ransom.
Answer:
Yeah, apparently it is.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/new...
The State Department has had warnings for years about it on their web page for American tourists to Mexico.
To the post below me, you live in a fantasy world. There are real security concerns and no solution will be adopted if they can't be addressed. This from the US State Dept web page:
"PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
------------------------------...
This information is current as of today, Sun Feb 25 10:10:14 2007.
Mexico
September 15, 2006
This Public Announcement alerts U.S. citizens to the rising level of brutal violence in areas of Mexico. This violence has occurred throughout Mexico, but has been particularly persistent in the city of Nuevo Laredo within the state of Tamaulipas. This Public Announcement expires on March 15, 2007.
U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise extreme caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Public sources suggest that narcotics-related violence has claimed 1,500 lives in Mexico this year. In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican and U.S. citizens in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero, and other states.
U.S. citizens have also been victims of random shootings on major highways outside of Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, and other areas throughout Mexico. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo, with more than two dozen cases still unresolved; recent incidents indicate a possible resurgence of kidnappings for ransom. Mexican police and other government figures have been murdered in Guerrero, Nuevo Leon, the Federal District, Tamaulipas, and other states. Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros.
Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens are targeted, criminals look for every opportunity to take advantage of unwary travelers. U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify officials as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which are generally more secure. It is preferable for U.S. citizens to stay in well-known tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities with more adequate security, and provide an itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling with them. U.S. citizens should refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items."
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw...
ok...it's not "common," it's newsworthy. thats the very reason WHY is in the news...because it's UNcommon. hence "news." sure, it happens more in mexico than it does here...but that is mostly mexico city. i would say that is one of the only places where you might actually be worried about it, and even then, there are millions of people there, thousands of americans, and they still live there don't they? so...just keep in mind that these things hit the paper, and they make you think it's going on all over the place, but that's just not true.
at the same time.....a lot of this does have to do with drugs, and drug cartels rarely just capture some random person. if you get yourself involved in something that isn't good...things that aren't good may happen to you. and drug cartels wouldn't be infiltrating the US if people here STOPPED buying drugs!
Thanks for the info, i hadn't heard about this one!!!
What happened to the "poor honest people just looking for work"??? Oh wait.....i guess this IS their "work"!!!
From what I heard, this illegal alien had loads of documents. He was hardly undocumented. Just the kind of guy Ted Kennedy wants more of in this country.
It's on the rise, but mostly amongst wealthy people who travel in foreign countries. Most Americans don't have enough money to be worth kidnapping.
it's sad. Florida has kids in the system they can't find. this country has gone bonkers.
The immigration information post by website user , MyTend.com not guarantee correctness