Wanna Travel to Mexico?  Check State Dept. Travel Advisories

Patrick Braxton-Andrew Still Missing, Feared Dead in Chihuahua State

Fortunately, so far, in spite of  the White House's open contempt for the State Department, and its extreme politicization at the higher ranks, and refusal to fill vital positions, the State Department has managed to function professionally at the lower levels wherever it still maintains intended capabilities.  A case in point is that of Andrew Braxton, missing for several days in Urique, at the bottom of Copper Canyon in Chihuahua State.  Long-established protocols for dealing with missing Americans require the nearest US Consular offices (scattered throughout the world) to act as an intermediary between relevant local authorities and the missing person's family.  The protocols are designed to establish an official US government concern, and presence, putting pressure on local officials who otherwise might simply do nothing.

In the case of Braxton-Andrew this means 83 Mexican government agents (click here) are searching the Urique area for signs of what may have happened, intelligence services are surely mobilized, and public attention is focused on the search.  It is working as intended, and I have no doubt that we will soon know just what happened..Had these protocols not been in place, the chances are high that Braxton-Andrew's family would be all alone, desperately seeking information from people near the hotel, with police authorities simply saying "we know nothing."  None of us would have even heard that there was an American tourist missing in Urique.

For US citizens thinking about travel, Chihuahua State is classified by the State Department as a "level 3" location.  (click here)  That means RECONSIDER YOUR TRAVEL PLANS TO THAT LOCATION.  Level 4 means:  Do Not Travel There.  In this case of Chihuahua the exact language is:  "Reconsider travel due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread."  I've covered violence in Chihuahua enough during the past few years that readers here will know there are frequent gun battles between police and criminal gangs throughout the state; certain areas get very violent for brief periods of time, and very bad things can happen to innocent bystanders.  Southern Chihuahua in particular is one of the most conflictive zones in the country.

Does this mean you should stay away from Copper Canyon altogether?  Not necessarily.  If you stay on the train, stick with the tour, don't wander off by yourself, and be alert to your surroundings, the chances are extremely high nothing bad will happen.  Braxton-Andrews was wandering off by himself in Urique, alone.  There is clearly a tacit agreement by criminal gangs, police agencies, the tourist industry, and most Mexican citizens, that tourists are off limits:  tourism is a major source of revenue in Mexico and incidents like that of Braxton-Andrews are not good for business.  And even the nastiest sicarios, or their bosses, understand this.  Having said this, there is always a risk involved, even in crossing the street on University Avenue in Las Cruces.  And the risk of traveling through Copper Canyon by train is higher by a very uncertain factor, than crossing the street.  Lightning doesn't strike often, but it strikes more often near Socorro, NM, than just about anywhere else in the world.  So don't be out in an open space there as a storm approaches.

What about travel to a place where the State Department says:  Do Not Travel?  This applies to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamulipas.  Now you are pushing your luck.  You are probably safe at a beach hotel in Mazatlan, but don't go downtown to the market.  Law and order, for many possible reasons, has broken down systemically, raising the risk for outsiders.  If you go to one of these spots, be as inconspicuous as possible, and let the US Embassy know your itinerary.