A visit to Juárez

I visited Juárez on Saturday for the first time in a couple of months. I usually go more regularly, but when there is no college football to bet on, my visits slow down.

I guess I had read too many scary stories, and too many crazy posts on our forum, because I was actually a little leery of heading over.

But as soon as I crossed the Paso del Norte bridge, I remembered how little there is to be afraid of, as long as you take a little care.

It was Dia de las Madres, and there were smiling women everywhere holding bunches of flowers their loved ones had given them. At the Villa del Mar restaurant just off of Avenida Juárez, the place was packed with families treating their beloved madres to a nice meal.

And there were new tourist signs sprucing up the area around Avenida Juarez, offering maps and a guide to some of the favorite tourist stops.

I did not see a city living in fear.

It always amazes me how many people act like visiting Juarez is too crazy to imagine. When I visit New Orleans, people just ask me how much fun I had; they don't act like I'm crazy for visiting a dangerous city. But, per capita, New Orleans is more dangerous than Juarez.

The fact is, in both places, I just make sure to use good sense. I stay in the tourist areas. I don't wander around alone. I don't visit Juárez at night anymore, though I think that would be fairly safe, too, with a little caution.

But judging by the poll attached to today's Juarez violence story, most folks are a lot more freaked out than me. But I'm guessing that nearly all of the 90 percent who said they are now less likely to visit Juarez didn't visit too often before.

I was glad to see this quote from UTEP's Tony Payan at the end of the story:

Payan added that the average person, if not involved in drug trafficking, should not worry about falling victim to violence.

"I think El Pasoans should not panic," Payan said. "They should not worry about going to Juárez. I think fear is the worse thing that people can have."

You're certainly right, my man, but fear seems to be what Americans are all about lately.

Comments

[Charles Baudelaire]

"I just make sure to use good sense. I stay in the tourist areas. I don't wander around alone. I don't visit Juárez at night anymore..."

Thanks but no thanks!

[TXINVADESNM]

I am a proud El Pasoan, but I love Juarez. I visit Juarez regularly and nothing ever happens to me. Is Juarez more dangerous than El Paso. Yes. However, Juarez is about 3 times the size of El Paso, it is bound to be more dangerous. Juarez is like any other city in the world. As long as you don't act like a jackass you are probably going to be alright.

[Mike]

This article couldn't be more right-on. Juarez is a major metro area of more than two and one half million people. Yes, violence is never a good thing but we never fret about visiting L.A or Houston despite having similar if not greater levels of violence. I've visited Juarez all thirty-one years of my life and not once have I encountered any problems; not even a police bribe. It all depends on you and whether you display the American arrogance factor. You show arrogance or you participate in illegal activity you're asking for it

[EpWonder]

Lets get the anti-immigration radicals blood to boil once again. Saw this story exclusively on Univision KINT channel 26 last week.

So, in February a 19 year old U.S Citizen who has lived in Mexico all his life decides to cross the border in El Paso and instead of being turned back because he doesn't have documentation he is arrested because the CBP agents think he's here illegally and don't believe his story that he was born in Albuquerque,NM. Despite birth certificate and other documentation proving he is a citizen he spends the next THREE MONTHS in jail being transfered from Sierra Blanca,TX to Otero County,NM and essentially in limbo. Finally on April 22, the charges are dropped. But here is where it gets good, he's not released untin MAY 8!!! Apparently after the family got frustrated and called the tv station. Now I read, that several U.S citizens and LEGAL residents working at Pilgrims Pride plants were hauled away along with illegal immigrants during recent ICE raids.
CBP and ICE say these are mistakes that happen rarely.
They shouldn't be happening at all!!

But of course this isn't profiling...nah, no way...The fact that they are all Hispanic just doesn't have anything to do with it. Nooooo

[Dude]

True, odds are you will be safe. But I seriously think this is being down played too much. I work in Juarez and even in our "small" group we've had several people who have had close calls. One, in fact, was eating with their family at Carl's Jr. and a massive gun fight broke out, shooting into the building where their children were playing. Perhaps it was just "bad luck" but I won't be eating out in Juarez until the violence subsides. I think it is fine to not discourage travel to Juarez, but I disagree the Times/Blog should be promoting it... seriously, it really isn't safe right now and not worth a chance with your life.

[SunCityCynic]

Juarez may be lovely and all, but I'd rather not wait two hours at the bridge to cross over--violence or no violence.
Anti-immigration?? Hmm… nice segue.

[tune]

Tourist areas like night clubs?

4 from El Paso wounded at Juárez nightclub
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/09/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

Four El Pasoans were shot and wounded shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday as they were leaving the Arriba Chihuahua nightclub in the ProNaF tourist zone in Juárez, but it's unknown whether they were targeted or merely unlucky bystanders caught up in the wave of violence that has recently engulfed Juárez, police said.

[Faithful blog reader]

Have to disagree with you on this one, Jay.

I spent, specially in my younger years, a lot of time in Juarez. I still visit regularly because of family I some times wish didn't live there.Yes, odds are nothing will happen when you visit but the chances are getting stronger that something will. I don't recall the level of violence in Juarez ever getting to the point where it is now. Just over the past week there were a pair of shootings in areas with heavy tourist traffic and where people not involved in the drug trade are likely to be but are just as likely to get shot. Taking a "little care" is not always enough.

Sure, you may be more likely to get killed in New Orleans and I'm sure there are other places in the U.S. that are plagued with violence. The difference between Juarez and New Orleans is that one has at least some rule of law. I'm sure if somebody guns down a drug dealer in New Orleans, the shooter has to know they run the risk of getting caught. In Juarez, the cartels could pretty much shoot somebody in a major street and hang out at the scene for another half hour without fear that the cops are going to show or that they will be arrested or prosecuted once the blue boys do roll up.

I'm glad you saw people in Juarez celebrating mother's day as they normally would. My family did the same. That doesn't mean there is no fear. People still have to live and thankfully the violence is not to a level that the city has ground to a halt. Trust me, there's fear on both sides of the border even if you don't see it.

I'm not advocating that folks stop visiting Juarez. I am advocating that people be very careful when they do.

I typically agree with your views but you're way off base on this one and you're downplaying the problem. And if you're basing your opinion solely on an occasional trip to the sports book and lunch in downtown Juarez along with the stories you read in the Times, then you have a very narrow view of the problem down there.

Again, typically I agree with you, Jay, but the previous poster (Dude) seems to have a much better understanding of the situation than you do. It's hard to have an accurate view of Juarez when you're looking at the place while standing in El Paso.

[Jay Koester]

TXINVADESNM and Mike: Thanks for the support. And I think you both make important points. Act cool, and don't participate in illegal activity, and Juárez is a welcoming place.

Dude: Thanks for the comment, but I'll keep promoting it. I think Juarez is a interesting, safe place for tourists. And if El Pasoans want tourists to visit our area ... that has to include Juárez.

Faithful blog reader: You say to disagree with me, but it doesn't seem like it: "I'm not advocating that folks stop visiting Juarez. I am advocating that people be very careful when they do." That was exactly the point of my post!

However, I do agree with you that I'm no Juarez expert. Probably more expert than 90 percent of El Pasoans, but still I'm coming at it from a limited perspective, no doubt.

In the end, I look at the numbers and see that the "dangers of Juarez" are way overblown. Perspective.

[Juarez Native!]

Yes like everybody says Juarez is a big metropolitan aerea who has all most 2 million of people and theres crime like every major city. Detroit, New Orleans, L.A and a couple of more have more violence than Juarez and familys go there with no fear so why not Juarez? Like they said before if you are not related with drug cartels you dont have to be scare! I Love Juarez and love the night life at clubs!! Hopefully Indios the professional soccer tema of Juarez gets to the first division of Mexican soccer, that will bring more tourism to Juarez and more national media to see what is really Juarez.

[Elena]

Totally disagree Jay,
Coming from a female that grew up in Juarez, let me tell you it's not safe. Ten years ago I almost got kidnapped over there infront of my house. I was lucky I could escape. However, many (hundreds or thousands) of women have not and have gotten killed in horrific ways. I go to Juarez once a month to visit relatives, and like you saw at the restaurant on mothers day, we can manage to have a good time. But, reality is that fear is still there. Remember, the police is not trustworthy, just read "El Diario" and the military much less (again, from personal experience) A little careful is not going to cut it. In my opinion, People need to be seriously careful and try to avoid going over there as much as possible.

[Dude]

Came back to review the comments. Despite some reasonable differences in opinions, it is sure nice to see comments on the internet done in a mature, polite manner. Thanks for the blog Jay and the mature, smart audience it apparently attracts.

[Juan]

Is Juarez a safe place to visit even if you are minding your own business?? Unfortunately what was once a fun thing to do like visiting Juarez to go and eat maybe get your car washed or even enjoy a delicious elote at Parque Borunda has now become a thing of the past. Juarez is a very dangerous city! Not even the so called "tourist" areas are safe now. Recent killings in both Avenida Juarez and Plaza de las Americas are a prime example of that. These incidents both claimed the lives of innocent victims. Just if anyone is wondering who these victims were they were everyday people doing their everyday business. The victims in the Avenida Juarez area were taxy drivers and the victim in Plaza de las Avericas was a carwasher. I could of never imagine something like an old west shootout happen in the places where I frequent so often. Avenida Juarez is the same place where I partied so often in my youth and the Plaza de las Americas is where my family and I go do our shopping. Unfortunately I am in a situation where I need to go to Juarez on a constant basis but for the first time in my life I fear for my life when I am there. My stomach cramps up when I come up to a red light or even when a police officer pulls up next to me. Now this is the police! Yes, the Juarez police does not have the greatest reputation but I never thought that they would be the main targets of the Narco Assasinations. So to all of the people who are pondering visiting Juarez please reconsider if you decide to go! Things will only get worse before they get better...

[Anonymous]

i was working today... as i do every day haha and i received a text saying "deadly massacre planned in juarez"
well Throughout the day through a series of transactions & interactions with a few customers at a bank i work at... I found out a very interesting story...
In a bar/restaurant the infamous Cartel leader el "Chapo" was spotted...
He went into the bar, with his gaurds and had the bar closed, Exits secured, and cell phones of innocent people taken and held at the door... He stated to the crowd "not to worry I'm not going to harm any of you; Drink's & food are on me"
He is in juarez... And this weekend is said to be the bloodiest weekend in the history of Juarez

[Anonymous]

i was working today... as i do every day haha and i received a text saying "deadly massacre planned in juarez"
well Throughout the day through a series of transactions & interactions with a few customers at a bank i work at... I found out a very interesting story...
In a bar/restaurant the infamous Cartel leader el "Chapo" was spotted...
He went into the bar, with his gaurds and had the bar closed, Exits secured, and cell phones of innocent people taken and held at the door... He stated to the crowd "not to worry I'm not going to harm any of you; Drink's & food are on me"
He is in juarez... And this weekend is said to be the bloodiest weekend in the history of Juarez