World

Over 200 Americans killed in Mexico since '04

by 158 | February 9, 2009 at 04:53 pm

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More than 200 American citizens have been killed since 2004 in Mexico's escalating wave of violence, amounting to the highest number of unnatural deaths in any foreign country outside military combat zones, according to the U.S. State Department.

Standing alone this sounds bad.

It is 50 a year but in Detroit,

Michigan, USA, 418 died in one year,

1700 in 4 years, 8 times as many as in

Mexico.

Detroit has just over 1 million people. 500,000 Americans live in Mexico and over 500,000 are in Mexico as tourists at any given time.

Top on our list? Detroit. The Motor City experienced 418 cases of murder and non-negligent manslaughter in 2006. That's 47.3 murders per every 100,000 residents.

The Chronicle analysis showed some American homicide victims were involved in organized crime. At least two dozen American victims were labeled as cartel hitmen, drug dealers, smugglers or gang members. Others were drug users or wanted for crimes in the United States.

But in at least 70 other cases, the Americans were killed in Mexico while there on seemingly innocent business: visiting family, vacationing or living and working there.

Mexican Congressman Juan Francisco Rivera Bedoya of Nuevo Leon said he believes most American victims get killed after crossing the border for illegal activities or venturing into unsafe areas.

"Tourists visiting cathedrals, museums and other cultural centers are not at risk," he said.