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YucaLandia

Oct 20, 2010, 6:07 AM

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Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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After lots of fruitlessly searching various websites for up-to-date reports on how things are going for immigrants crossing into Mexico and for inmigrantes departing México, I propose that we have a sticky thread leading-off the Traveling Mexico forum.

I propose that Mexconnect readers and lurkers offer their experiences by describing:

which crossings are working well (or poorly) & why (including time of day, & other useful details);
rank the difficulty of your crossing, including Aduana, INM, y Militar's rankings(?) 1-10 scale?
what vehicles were you entering with: pick-up truck and 30 ft trailer con dos ejes...
what potential pitfalls await unsuspecting viajeros;
what helpful techniques and approaches that make for smooth inspections; and describing
which of our behaviors trigger suspicion and problems.

Anything I missed?
========================================================================
e.g. We just had an excellent border crossing in Nuevo Laredo last Wednesday, bringing in a nearly new pickup truck with a 30 ft enclosed trailer using an FM-3. We give the Mexican authorities 9's for Aduana* y Militars** and 10's for INM and the Banjercito vehicle registration people. After a good nights sleep at *** hotel in Laredo, we crossed the border at Nuevo Laredo at border crossing #1 at 7:45 AM.

THERE WAS NO RED-LIGHT GREEN-LIGHT loteria.... Just a 10 minute straightforward visual inspection, 5 minutes of questions, and a 10 minute wait until Aduana returned with our stamped and approved list of contents of the load - with E-Bay prices for every item. Presenting the Aduana's approved & stamped list to the 50km check point agent, and to another Aduanas checkpoint north of Monterrey was very helpful: not a menaje de casa - but just a simple typed list of contents & values, and total value of the contents...

In the inspection, we started with the usual explanations to the Militars and then Aduana's officials - describing who each of us was: (hint: prepare a little speech ahead of time?)

"Ellos son una pared de jubilados, quien no hablo Español bien, y yo soy un amigo de ellos, quienes ayudar ellos para manejar."

We then announced that:

"En nuestra vehiculos:"

"No hay productos agriculturas,"
"No hay productos commerciales,"
"No hay productos para negocios,"
"Nosotros tienes solamente cosas semi-nuevos - de domocilio - para la casa: muebles, cosas personal, etc ..."

**Two of the Aduana's agents spoke excellent English, and their inspections included: simply asking normal questions, and involved scanning the inside of our truck, and scanning the inside of our trailer. We did however have a few sticky moments when they noticed a 1 Qt. zip-lock bag full of personal prescription bottles.

All of the prescriptions were single items (not 10 bottles of one medication), all had typical pharmacy labels, etc.
The Militars were concerned about the bottles, and Aduanas were very concerned that we did not have "recetes" (written prescriptions) for every bottle. The Aduana's agents were clearly put in a bind by our method of storage & presentation, because the rules say that we should have prescription documents for each bottle.
Hint: If you do things that cause dilemmas for Militars, INM, or Aduana's agents, it puts them on the spot - forcing them to break the rules, or break your .....

=================================================================
In this case, 2 later times on the trip, we had more problems with the prescription bottles because we had stored them in a clear plastic container w/o written prescriptions - but, when we (later) moved the pill bottles into one passajera's commodius purse, all future problems vaporized.

As we were just about to lose a bag of 15 important prescription meds to the Aduana's agent, the lawyer (passajera) in our group jumped in to point out that the old guy in our group has a somewhat deformed knee - visible from under his shorts - and that he could not function without his medications - e.g. when in doubt, be deferential, ask for help from the official (putting them in power), and play on their sympathy... (every family here in Mexico seems to have someone with a disability. - ? -)

**The Militars also did not like the bag of medications - but the rest of their light inspection was simple and friendly. Their inspections consisted of only looking-for and asking-about containers that were large enough to hold a cache of rifles o armas - or bales of MJ. (Anybody else hear: "La Cucarahcha, La Cucarahcha, ya no puedo caminar..." = too toasted to walk.. hmmmm, they were called roaches even 80 years ago...)

================================================================

***It seemed very useful to describe our professional status: "Yo soy un Doctoro y Profesor de Quimico" y "Yo soy una abogada..." Maybe rank does have its privileges? Every time our abogada in the group explained her profession, the govt agents stood up a little straighter, became much more friendly, and much more relaxed.

One previously stern, but-now-shy, young LMG-toting Militar gently asked our abogada if she could help him with immigration problems he was having for entering the USA. Talk about a quick turn-around in a situation... *grin*

=================================================================
Other helpful stuff? When I described to one (very pretty but heavily armed) Aduana's agent (at a roadside checkpoint about 45 minutes north of Monterrey) that I lived in Mérida, had a "Yucasposa"*** and that I had friends in Monterrey, she warmed up very nicely. When she said she was from Monterrey, I asked if ("tal vez") she knew 'Conoce Beto y Carla **** " and then grinned, she laughed and flashed a sweet smile. Sort of like asking someone from Chicago, if: "maybe you know Teddy & Anne Karwatka? - Yak-she-mash! -".

Other than the benefit of easing tension and the joy of receiving smiles, when things later got very sticky (again due to the prescriptions without a doctor's written authorization) - the same pretty agent with the LMG, reassured her grumpy suspicious jeffe that "these people are OK - let them pass with their medications"... He hesitated, shrugged his shoulders ( the classic "Ni Modo" gesture - what can one do...) - and when he backed-down, and said we did not have to unpack the entire load - that we could instead go on our way, yet more smiles.
Honey vs. Vinegar? - The typical demanding "ugly American" vs a few laughs? - It's all up to you(?).

=================================================================
****It is great being from Yucatan, because we're sort of the much-loved country bumpkins of México - talking with very funny accents - lilting and halting speech (no machine-gun Spanish en Yucatan) - and telling nuestra bombas - after falling off the turnip truck... I get sweet smiles back almost every time that I mimic Yuca-speech, como mi Yuca-sposa - talking like una allegra little loro verde.

=================================================================
Note: NL border crossing #1 is a little bit off the main road, which usually makes it much less traveled, and is open 24/7, unlike Columbia Bridge which opens at 8:00 AM & sometime early long lines from people waiting for the Bridge to open every AM. NL border crossing #1 is about 10 blocks west of NL border crossing #2. Border crossing #2 is easily entered by driving straight down I-35 to the border, but crossing #2 had lines of cars & trucks at least 20 vehicles deep.

There is very good signage to NL Border crossing #1 - directing you (RIGHT - West) off I-35 about 2 blocks before entering border crossing #2. Just follow the signs about 6-8 blocks West and then turning right (South) for a few blocks, bending around to your left to the entry of NL border crossing #1.

While there were 50 - 100 vehicles waiting at border crossing #2 at 7:45 in the AM, there were ZERO vehicles at NL crossing #1. We wheeled in our long rig - and flew through checks by Militars & Aduanas in just 15 minutes, and INM in 10 minutes - even with a 30 ft long enclosed trailer. We noticed that at that checkpoint and at 2 others, the obviously Mexican people with a truckload of stuff had to completely unpack their loads and open every bag, we were given cursory 5-10 minute checks that only asked about the items big enough to hold armas, casos de rifles or LMGs, or bales of MJ... When they saw that the partially exposed big items in the load were just a grill and desk - we were on our way.

=================================================================
There was not a hint of any Narco-Trafficante problems anywhere in Mexico - only problems in the USA:
a border patrol agent about 40 miles north of Laredo told us that the last 2 towns in Texas before Laredo were NOT SAFE TO STAY IN OVERNIGHT. (he was emphatic) - he instructed us to drive on into Laredo, even though it was late at night. We got lots of warnings about how dangerous Laredo Texas was due to gang activity, and 2 friendly guys in a minimart in north Laredo looked horrified when they thought we were going to try to cross the frontera at 11:58 PM at night. I quickly explained that were were already in our hotel - crossing in the morning - and that I just wanted some cold cervesas for the evening... They relaxed, grinned, and gave a big THUMBS-UP to crossing at "7:00 in the morning".

What'-chyall think?
steve
- -
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Oct 20, 2010, 12:39 PM)

YucaLandia

Oct 20, 2010, 6:19 AM

Post #2 of 13 (14648 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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Here's a useful example of an earlier crossing report from another thread - with their slightly different perspectives:
u]Andy 777 recently wrote:

In Reply To

Hi there,

I just want to post this in case it helps anyone. We've passed Columbia road several times without incident, mostly early during the week, probably 8-9 A.M when the bridge opens. Here's my experience:

-It's indeed less people than other bridges, but you have to drive 20+ or so miles out of the way to get there and then on the other side you have to drive back.
- there are 2 roads to the bridge, one comes from Laredo, the other one from San Antonio, the one from San Antonio is a toll road and it is expensive but there's the option to drive to Laredo and get there, lots of trucks tho.
-At the bridge nobody seems to speak English, I am fluent in Spanish so that wasn't a problem for me but I thought you should know I've had to act as a translator for other americans. If you go early in the morning they don't even want to see you, I guess working early kinda sucks.
- Customs shouldn't be a problem if you should follow the law, make a copy from their website of their own regulations and if they try to give you grief show them you know exactly what's going on. A custom officer tried to tell me those things allowed/franchise were only meant to apply when it was a family crossing the border and it didn't apply to me. This is not true, their website says clearly, the franchise is PER PERSON and it doesn't say anything about only applying to mexican families.
- Crossing the border with a dog or cat is a breeze but do have the documentation at hand, customs will give you more of a pain about electronics so check the list of what you're allowed and declare what you aren't allowed, desktops aren't allowed as part of your things, you have to declare them. Just be honest and friendly, they might allow you to go without paying.
- Make copies of the documentation before you leave, the prices for copies at the border are outrageous!, lol. 10 -15 pesos for 2 copies!
- Don't buy car insurance at the border, there are guys there trying to get you to buy it like it is required, it's a rip-off, 5 months of bare minimum insurance for $300 dlls ? no way, buy it when you get to your destination or before leaving the US from an american company, you can even buy it from a reputable Mexican insurance company online it costs around 200 dlls for the whole year, but so you know it isn't illegal to drive in Mexico without insurance, still , get insurance in case you kill somebody, mexicans will cross the road even if you're coming 80 m/h towards them, and in some cities people just don't have their brake lights!!!, get used to it and be prepared to stop at all times, drive carefully and you'll be fine.
- The roads to get to and from the bridge are very secluded, you won't find a lot of things except one gas station at the end of the bridge, trucks and more trucks, make sure to gas up before leaving the U.S. it's happened some of the gas stations on the Mexican side don't have gas.
- Don't speed because there are indeed bad mexican cops waiting along colombia road, I've been stopped once, Idk if it helps but it was on a Sunday 12 pm, perhaps everybody here who has been stopped should give their experience and maybe we can figure out what day of the week we can find them there.
- There's a speed trap close to Oxxo, the speed changes from 80 km/h to 60 km/h , you might not see it or you might not have enough time to slow down, there's where the bad cops get you, it's happened only once but it does happen, even if you are going 65 km/h -like me- they will stop you and threaten you to take you down to the "station". Idk about anyone here but being a woman I don't want to go with a low-class human carrying a weapon to some station that might or not exist, simply not happening.
-At that point you have to bribe them, carry with you only 300-500 pesos, open up your wallet to show them and tell them that's all you have, don't carry any valuables with you, don't show your credit cards. Just be calm and don't let them intimidate you. They want your money, they don't really want to take you to the station. Another thing is you don't go all American on them and ask them to go to the station because you will tell on them or whatever (lol), their boss will back them up and you will feel frustrated and helpless. This happened to my mom, don't make the same mistake.
- Don't speed!, along the road you will find out very soon the speed limits are RIDICULOUS, and I mean completely dumb!, most people will pass you by, if it says 80 km/h people will go 120 km/h, don't do the same, just chill and try to enjoy, getting stopped by a Federal is no picnic and a 500 pesos bribe won't cut it so, just follow the speed limit no matter what everybody else does.
- Take the toll roads!. 600 pesos from Nuevo Laredo to Aguascalientes is worth every penny.
- I personally think we lonely gringos should make friends at the border and travel following each other at least part of the road, crowds are powerful, we should just unite and help each other on the mexican side. Why don't we?

And if you have any questions just send me a message.

-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

YucaLandia

Oct 20, 2010, 6:46 AM

Post #3 of 13 (14634 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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Hints:
It can be a blessing to speak less-than-perfect Spanish when explaining things to Mexican officials:

"En nuestra vehiculos:"

"No hay productos agriculturas,"
"No hay productos commerciales,"
"No hay productos para negocios," y
"Nosotros tienes solamente cosas semi-nuevos - de domocilio - para la casa: muebles, cosas personal, etc ..."

Sure, I know that it is "Nosotros tenemos..." - but if you make obvious mistakes, it subtly says to the agent o Militar that you might be explaining other things wrong too, even when you speak with an excellent accent. If you later accidentally venture into some other problematic area in a subsequent discussion/inquiry with the agent/policia, you have established that you certainly can "mis-speak" and it gives you an automatic loop-hole to wiggle through? - allowing you to completely retract mis-statements - and instead replace your goofs & gaffes with more acceptable pronouncements...

We have one friend who, when stopped on the toll road between Mérida y Cancun, he tells the Federales o Policia del Estado:

"Nosotros vamos - llevar a Cancun" as he points backwards towards Mérida, and
then he boldly pronounces that "Nosotros llegar a Merida" as he points forwards towards Cancun...

The funniest bit is that as the cop approaches his car, every time he has to ask his wife to remind him which direction is actually llevar and which direction is llegar - so, he can say them wrong - jabbering like a Barbary ape... *grin*

Every time, the cops look perplexed for a moment - and then shake their heads in disbelief - and wave him on with disgusted gestures... (Get out of here, you goofy gringo... we just don't want to deal with such silliness...)

... the games some people play.... *sigh*

=============================================================

I might also note that if you are bringing in a "new" vehicle into Mexico under your FM-3 or FM-2, be sure to have:

extra copies of vehicle titles & vehicle registrations,
copies of proof of Mexican insurance (to avoid having to leave a deposit or CC number),
copies of your Driver's License
know your plate number(s) - and point them out on the car registration document
a valid and working credit card to pay for the fees**
???

==========================================================
**You might want also to call the FRAUD DEPARTMENT of you CC company in advance of your travels, having them enter a rough travel itinerary of the dates and the locations you are planning to visit, because some Fraud Department computers automatically flag even out-of-state card usage - and their computers can quickly and automatically block both out-of-state US and international charges - while all of said head-aches can be shorted-to-ground by a simple pre-trip call to the Fraud Depts of your cards. "Blah, blah, blah, Ginger.."

==========================================================
Note that no one at the border will tell you to go get your car &/or trailer registered...
The vehicle registration area at NL Border crossing #1 is not obvious - about 2 blocks away after you leave Aduanas/INM at the frontera. Agents can give you current driving instructions... We turned right (West - upriver) upon leaving Aduanas, drove about 2 blocks and then made a U-turn into an unmarked ramp that led back a block to an unmarked entrance to a big parking lot partly full of people registering vehicles. It was a 4 step process - very easy & simple - where we skipped steps 2 & 3 because we had our extra foto-copies y all our documentos from Aduanas y INM and we had all our documents for the vehicles...

==========================================================
Why do all this stuff?
There were 2 goofy-looking young gringo guys who complained that "because of stupid Mexican systems", it had taken them over 1½ hours (or more) to register their car - and they were still there when we left - since we were in and out in under 30 minutes - no lines longer than 2 people....
Bad systems or goofy or demanding clients? *grin*

So, I guess each person's experiences might depend on how they how they prepare beforehand, and how they act when on the spot ?

"Cria cuervos que te sacaran tus ojos..."

(Could you/we actually: create/feed/nurture the crows that later pick out your eyes?)

Are you a bully, an innocente, or a sweetie?

Yuum bootik,
eh-steve
- -
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Oct 20, 2010, 7:36 AM)

Reefhound

Oct 20, 2010, 8:16 AM

Post #4 of 13 (14594 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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I think it's a great idea. If you really want to aggregate information, I would suggest using a template form for the basic data and then a Details section at the bottom for people to add all the comments.

The value of firsthand reports, in my opinion, really comes from a variety of reports rather than any single report. A form template will make it much easier to skim across the various reports and compare and compile things like difficulty of crossing. For example, your prose example was a tedious read to get the basics. When did they cross? Last Wednesday? What if I'm reading it a month later? The day and time were given in different places. How difficult was it? They got 9's and 10's, does that mean it was very easy or very hard?

Here's just a starter to make it easy to pick out the key details at a glance and aggregate them. Might help remind people what to include as well.

Entry Point (crossing/airport):
Laredo Bridge #1

Date/Time:
Wednesday, Oct 20th at 7:45AM

Transport (car/truck/bus/foot/etc.):
New pickup truck with 30' enclosed trailer

Status (FMT/FM3/FM2/national):
FM3

Difficulty of crossing (1-10, 10 being easiest):
INM: 10
Aduanas: 9
Militar: 9

Inspection:
10 minutes visual inspection, 5 minutes questions

Total crossing time:
25 minutes

Warnings:
Have prescriptions for all medications

Tips:
Be warm and friendly to agents
Describe your professional status

Details:
insert all the prose here

(This post was edited by Reefhound on Oct 20, 2010, 8:18 AM)

Reefhound

Oct 20, 2010, 8:28 AM

Post #5 of 13 (14588 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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While there were 50 - 100 vehicles waiting at border crossing #1, at 7:45, there were ZERO vehicles at NL crossing #1.

I think there is a typo here.

There is very good signage to NL Border crossing #1 - directing you (RIGHT - West) off I-35 about 2 blocks before entering border crossing #2. Just follow the signs about 6-8 blocks West and then turning right (South) for a few blocks, bending around to your left to the entry of NL border crossing #1.

That's nice but as an American going to Mexico I would not be so worried about the signage in the USA but rather Mexico. Seems more important info is directions on the other side - how you get from bridge #1 to Mx85 to Monterrey. Would you be more concerned about being lost in Laredo or Nvo Laredo?

I know this is just an example, but also an example of how the reader can be left hanging with the most important details overlooked.

YucaLandia

Oct 20, 2010, 12:13 PM

Post #6 of 13 (14555 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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Hi Reefer,

The reef hound wrote:

"While there were 50 - 100 vehicles waiting at border crossing #1, at 7:45, there were ZERO vehicles at NL crossing #1.

I think there is a typo here."

Good catch: Thanks! I have corrected the typo - identifying Crossing #2 - at the end of I-35, as the very busy one, that morning. Other mornings & other times of days, lo no se...

==========================================================
The reef hound wrote:

There is very good signage to NL Border crossing #1 - . . . to the entry of NL border crossing #1.

That's nice but as an American going to Mexico I would not be so worried about the signage in the USA but rather Mexico. Seems more important info is directions on the other side - how you get from bridge #1 to Mx85 to Monterrey. Would you be more concerned about being lost in Laredo or Nvo Laredo?

I guess "importance" is in the eye of the beholder: it was so easy for us to get on the road to Monterrey that I never considered it as an issue.

As the traveler exits the car and vehicle registration parking lot - simply turn right - and follow that road for about 3 hours or so... It will take you directly to the 50 km checkpoint, and on to Monterrey.

For those who do not know where the vehicle registration building and parking lot are, read the other post above for instructions: It is just about 2 blocks down from where you leave NL border crossing #1.
- Turning right out of Border Crossing #1, you go about 2 blocks distance West (going upstream parallel to the Rio Bravo) , and then turn right again, (directly towards the Rio Bravo river). This effectively makes a U-Turn, through the break in the curb (exit) on your right.
- Then go down a gentle grade - and continue a ½ block or so to the vehicle registration parking lot (on your right = South)

- except that people going to Monterrey just continue on that road East along the Rio Grande / Bravo - following the twists and turns in the road to get to Monterrey - following the Monterrey signs.

==================================================================
The idea of a template seems fine. In addition to R-Hound's good suggestions and edits:

"Status (FMT/FM3/FM2/national): FM3"

I propose FMM vs FMT. And put each person's entries/reply on the same line as the item.

==================================================================
Re reefer's concerns about US travel and Mexico travel:
The US border patrol agent said it far more dangerous to stay in the small Texas towns over night, than it was to enter Mexico and drive through NL in the daytime. But you seem to know more than the US Border Patrol guys who have lived all their lives there. I'm just a simple guy, who can only go by what a local law enforcement official tells me.

The drive on our route though NL seemed uneventful - and did not seem to go through any particularly bad areas, but my yardstick for comparing dangerous situations relates to growing up living, walking, and driving in the USA Capital: 1960's & 1970's Washington DC - and living and working on the South Side of Chicago - and compared to those 2 places, most places seem pretty ok. (except for the neighborhood around Jackson Circle in New Orleans -- where we had our car raided of $1,000's of stuff in under 5 minutes: "Dem Looosiana boys, dey's be goodat dat...")
Dios bootik,
eh-steve
- -
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Oct 20, 2010, 12:31 PM)

Reefhound

Oct 20, 2010, 2:37 PM

Post #7 of 13 (14523 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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I guess "importance" is in the eye of the beholder: it was so easy for us to get on the road to Monterrey that I never considered it as an issue.

You misunderstood me. My point wasn't so much to quibble with the directions in this particular instance as to make an example of how so often we (including myself) omit details that seem obvious to us that may not be obvious to others. In this case, you guided them from the common path TO the alternate bridge crossing but not BACK to the common path. It may be the easiest thing in the world to get from point A to point B but if one has not been there before they do not know that.

Re reefer's concerns about US travel and Mexico travel:
The US border patrol agent said it far more dangerous to stay in the small Texas towns over night, than it was to enter Mexico and drive through NL in the daytime. But you seem to know more than the US Border Patrol guys who have lived all their lives there. I'm just a simple guy, who can only go by what a local law enforcement official tells me.

Time out. I never said anything at all about the safety of staying in any particular town or driving through any particular city. What I said is "I would not be so worried about the signage in the USA but rather Mexico" and "Would you be more concerned about being lost in Laredo or Nvo Laredo". I say that because the signage in the U.S. is typically pretty good just about everywhere I have been but I would not say the same thing about Mexico. If I get lost in the U.S. at least I speak the local language to ask directions. And no matter how unfamiliar I am with Laredo, I would be even more unfamiliar with Nvo Laredo.

"Status (FMT/FM3/FM2/national): FM3"

I propose FMM vs FMT. And put each person's entries/reply on the same line as the item.

FMM would be more accurate but you could put that for everything. What are the new classifications and terms for the FMM? I liked the old terms better, three simple characters, easy to type, easy to say, easy to identify.

Altahabana

Oct 21, 2010, 5:21 AM

Post #8 of 13 (14458 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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I think this is an excellent idea as far as providing information about the logistics of crossing at various points. But even recent experiences are not much help if someone is looking for reassurance about security issues.

Yesterday was a day of hysterical panic in Nuevo Laredo. The military apparently launced an operation and there were several balaceras/enfrentamientos between the army/marines and the Zetas, the worst occuring about 1 p.m. on Reforma, the main road out of the downtown area, near the Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola distributorship (intersecting street Lago de Chapala). There were lesser incidents in other parts of the city, but the most disruption was caused by the Zetas blocking major streets with commandeered commercial vehicles and buses. Several major intersections of Guerrero--which is the street leading directly from Bridge I-- were blocked and there was a grenade attack on the municipal buildings which are located on Guerrero about 2 miles south of the bridge. I understand there were similar incidents in Reynosa.

I live in Nuevo Laredo, but still do not know the specifics of what happened other than what I outlined. We will have to wait for information to be leaked to the narco blogs to get details. It is difficult to describe the vibe when something like this happens. Schools will be empty today if not closed officially and for the next few days there will be fewer people and vehicles on the streets.

This incident came out of the blue with no forewarning, much like the balacera of 7/16 which has been graphically documented on Blog del Narco. Reynosa experiences incidents like this even more frequently, but in the absence of double digit casualties or civilian deaths these things don't get publicized outside the border area and the narco blogs. I am not trying to fear monger, but there is an undeniable tendency on the part of some ex-pat travelers to believe that incidents like this are either exaggerated or pose no risk to them because they are simply passing through and minding their own business.

Peter

Oct 21, 2010, 6:09 AM

Post #9 of 13 (14447 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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This incident came out of the blue with no forewarning, much like the balacera of 7/16... there is an undeniable tendency on the part of some ex-pat travelers to believe that incidents like this are either exaggerated or pose no risk to them because they are simply passing through and minding their own business.

With these incidents coming "out of the blue" what should the people do? Other than stay home and not bother coming to Mexico, which may be their safest alternative, what should the travelling ex-pats do if they suddenly find themselves in middle of or dangerously close to such events?

Are there ways to avoid this? Or ways to duck and take cover? Is it wise to try and turn around and leave the area? Or is there a best way to deal with this?

Most times people report no problems travelling down, but we do know these things happen and there does not seem to be a way to be fully prepared for them or to know when they will occur. Is there any advice that can be offerred to the unfortunate ones that find themselves in middle of these things?

(This post was edited by Peter on Oct 21, 2010, 7:35 AM)

chinagringo

Oct 21, 2010, 7:29 AM

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Re: [Peter] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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While there is no "one size fits all" set of recommendations to fit all possible scenarios, the recommendations in the following thread may be about as good as they get:

http://www.mexconnect.com/...;;page=unread#unread
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Altahabana

Oct 21, 2010, 8:03 AM

Post #11 of 13 (14421 views)

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Re: [Peter] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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The recommendations in the cut/paste posted by Chinogringo are the standards and I have nothing to add to them. I have been stopped in narco reténes twice and fortunately on neither occasion was the purpose robbery or worse. Once they were looking for someone and the second they were stopping traffic in a residential area while a transfer of some type was taking place. I have also seen a levantón--i.e. removal of someone from a stopped vehicle. These are disturbing things to experience or witness. To reiterate the advice in the cut/paste, resistence is futile and flight is dangerous. They will react violently and your nationality is irrelevant.

I posted information about the event yesterday because it happened. It was not intended to discourage anyone from travelling, but Nuevo Laredo is a major entry point and people should be informed about these types of incidents. It is up to the individual as to what--if anything--they do in response. My response to the incident going home last night was to be even more observant than usual and try to find out through the unofficial sources--twitter, facebook, Grupo Reforma forum--where things happened or are happening. But bottom line is that there is little you can do when faced with a sudden incident like this.

Rolly

Oct 21, 2010, 8:55 AM

Post #12 of 13 (14414 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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I've been stopped 6 times by the army and once by the state police. 6 of these 7 stops were just quick questions -- Where are you coming from? Where are you going? No one asked to see papers. The state cop asked if my papers were in order. I said they were, and he didn't ask to see them.

Only once was I asked to step out of my pickup while two solders searched the truck. It was laughable. They spent a lot of time with flashlights trying to look into the doors' window wells. They ignored the boxes in the back of the pickup.

Rolly Pirate

chinagringo

Oct 21, 2010, 9:15 AM

Post #13 of 13 (14410 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Latest Reports on Crossing the Border: Aduanas & INM

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Rolly:

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/717911.html

The above report of a fake roadblock happened just down the highway from Lerdo between Santa Clara and Cuencamé. On our last trip north, we experienced a real Federale checkpoint in that very same area. But then again, do we really know it was real?
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM