Mexico sends 2000 troops to U.S - Mexico border

Chihuahua Joint Operation starts, troops begin deploying in Juárez

 

Photo gallery: Mexican troops arrive and patrol in Juarez

JUAREZ -- While hundreds of Mexican soldiers armed with automatic rifles arrived in C-130 Hercules aircraft Friday to overpower warring drug gangs, the U.S. State Department reiterated its earlier advice that travelers should be careful when visiting Mexico.

The Mexican government on Thursday announced it would send 2,000 soldiers and about 500 federal police officers to Juárez in response to the increasing violence that has stunned the city of more than 2 million people.

The U.S. placed Mexico under a travel alert last October, and it remains in effect until April 15. Next month, the State Department will reassess and decide whether that alert should be upgraded to a more serious "warning."

"We are always looking at the situation in Mexico and want to give Americans the best information (about) Juárez," said Steve Royster, spokesman for consular affairs at the U.S. Department of State. "As events warrant, we'll make changes as needed."

This is not the first time Mexico has been placed on alert, which is meant to help travelers make their own decisions, he said.

"That's really what a good traveler does -- makes themselves familiar with the circumstances and then makes a decision as to where they want to go."

the United States continue to work together to combat violence, he said.

JUAREZ -- A deployment of more than 2,000 soldiers is arriving in Juárez to take the city back from feuding drug traffickers -- blamed for intensely violent murders that are causing concern on the U.S. side of the border.

Top-level federal Mexican officials said Thursday that the soldiers would patrol the streets in 180 heavily armed military vehicles and three aircraft, including a helicopter gunship, and that federal police officers and investigators would operate checkpoints on main arteries entering the city.

The deployment is expected to spark more violence, but officials said they were prepared to meet any threat or attack. Officials did not say what kinds of weapons the soldiers would carry.

The escalating violence has caused uneasiness on the U.S. side of the border, and some officials fear that the violence will spill into El Paso.

Thursday night, the violence in Juárez was the subject of the first question asked at a forum featuring the five finalists for El Paso police chief. All said the killings in Mexico were a concern.

"That violence will spill over into El Paso," Assistant Chief Diana Kirk said. She added that federal officials have said people are already seeking refuge in El Paso.But interim Chief Gregory Allen, who spoke after Kirk, tried to ease concerns. "I don't think there is a danger of spillage over to the U.S."

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- The Mexican government has ordered 2,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to a wave of drug-related violence that is blamed for 200 deaths since January, officials announced Thursday.

Mexico has ordered troops to move near Juarez, shown here with El Paso, Texas, in the distance.

The troops are expected to depart Friday. The majority will be near the northern border of Mexico, in Juarez.

Juarez sits across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas.

Officials said the violence in Mexico has increased in large part to competing drug cartels.

"In this battle we will show that no criminal group is capable to resist the strength of the Mexican government," Interior Minister Juan Mourino said at a news conference Thursday.

Defense Secretary Guillermo Galvan said 2,026 soldiers, 180 military tactical vehicles, three airplanes and more than a dozen drug detection devices would be employed in the military operation.

"Violence, and this needs to be stressed, generates organized crime of drug trafficking," said Mexican Attorney General Medina Mora. "It's not in any way a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness, deterioration and decomposition."

Jueves, 27 de Marzo de 2008 | Comunicado Comunicado 60Secretaría de la Defensa NacionalCiudad de MéxicoJueves 27 de marzo de 2008La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional informa que en el marco de la Campaña Permanente Contra el Narcotráfico que realiza el Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, personal militar participará en la Operación Conjunta “Juárez”, con los efectivos siguientes:

* 2,026 Elementos.

* 180 Vehículos tácticos militares.

* 3 Aeronaves.

* 13 Equipos de detección molecular.

Las operaciones a realizar contemplan: * En Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.El despliegue de 10 Bases de Operaciones Mixtas, con el objeto de realizar reconocimientos y patrullajes en las áreas urbanas y suburbanas.El establecimiento de 46 Puestos de Control Móviles.

* En Palomas, ChihuahuaEl refuerzo a la Guarnición Militar con una compañía de fusileros motorizada se establecerán Puestos de Control Móviles y se realizaran reconocimientos y patrullajes en las áreas urbanas, suburbanas y rurales.

* Reconocimientos aéreos en áreas urbanas y rurales.

* Establecimiento de un Centro de Comando en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

* Establecimiento de una reserva aeromóvil con personal de Fuerzas Especiales apoyado con helicópteros artillados.

El día 28 de marzo de 2008, arribarán al aeropuerto Internacional de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua., un avión Boeing 727/100, y tres aviones C-130 “Hércules” pertenecientes a la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana, transportando a 485 elementos procedentes de otros mandos territoriales, quienes reforzarán estas operaciones.El día sábado 29 de marzo de 2008 arribarán al Aeropuerto Internacional de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, tres aviones C-130 “Hércules” y un avión Boeing 727/100, pertenecientes a la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana, transportando a 392 elementos y por vía terrestre a 805 elementos y 116 vehículos pertenecientes a la 3/a. Brigada de Infantería Independiente.