A travel alert issued recently by the U.S. Department of State warns about an upswing in violence and crime across Mexico, with an emphasis on the kidnapping of U.S. citizens. Despite the warning, some UW students traveling to Mexico for spring break have no plan to change their travel destination.

“My parents have told me about it and have tried to get me not to go,” said junior Erin Walstrom, who is planning to travel to Cabo San Lucas during spring break with a group of friends. “But we went last year so we kind of know our way around. There will be seven girls going, so we’re just going to make sure we stay together and hope everything goes okay.”

Recently, Mexican drug cartels — in some cases armed with automatic weapons and grenades — have met Mexican security forces, Mexico’s military and each other in an increasingly violent conflict near the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the travel alert released Feb. 20 by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed due to the violence, and in recent years dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico.

Crime such as robberies, homicides, petty thefts and carjacking are also on the rise throughout Mexico, with notable spikes in Tijuana and Northern Baja California.

Juarez is of special concern according to the travel alert. The city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and 1,650 carjacking incidents in 2008.

“I’ve read some articles about the problems down there,” said senior Ian Lauth, who will be traveling with a group of friends to Puerto Vallarta on the central western coast of Mexico. “We’re all aware of it and we’re all going to be cautious; in the past we’ve been okay with members of the group going off on their own and meeting up later, but this time we’ll make sure we stay together as a group.”

The Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that “U.S. citizens make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which generally are more secure” and “[visit] only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and [avoid] areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.”

Walstrom isn’t too concerned that her planned trip to Mexico will suffer from the strife.

“I mean it’s kind of scary, but I think that we’ll be fine as long as we stay conscious of what we’re doing, be aware and stay in the main areas,” she said.

Senior Vanessa Hooper, who has travelled to Mexico several times and has family there, will be traveling to Puerto Vallarta.

“I go to Mexico a lot and my Spanish is really good,” she said. “Locals generally think I’m just a really fair-skinned Mexican, so I don’t have to worry about being targeted. Plus I’m familiar with the area and I have family that lives two hours away, so realistically, if something happened, there would be help nearby.”

Her advice to students planning to travel to Mexico: “Be smart, don’t do drugs, watch your drinks and use the buddy system.”

The Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that any U.S. citizens who experience an emergency while traveling in Mexico contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A complete list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates is available at travel.state.gov.

Reach reporter Camden Swita at news@dailyuw.com.