However, when it comes to property crimes, the Nogales rate was 1.69% higher than the national stats. Ensenada is a coastal city and also happens to be the third-largest city when it comes to population. The shootouts were reported to be part of the battle between the Chapitos and El Mayo. More than 31 million Americans visited Mexico in 2016,the National Travel & Tourism Office says, and State Department data shows there were reports of 75 American homicide victims there. I was only in Nogales for 15 minutes. Mexico is a popular destination for purchasing prescription medications without a doctors prescription. Not bad, even though during our wanderings we saw plenty of shops where lunch could be had for half of that. The staff was friendly and the food was good. Traditionally, most of the deceased and injured in drug- related violence have been identified as people involved in the drug-trafficking business. NOGALES, Ariz. In mid-February, a federal judge sentenced a Sonora, Mexico man to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. The total of 67 premeditated homicides recorded from January through August in the city, most drug-related, averages out to one every four days, figures from the Sonoran government show. My list so far I appreciate your comment and like you said WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS. The people are the same as in anywhere. . We were treated kindly and politely at all points. Having lived in Tombstone AZ when I was in 8th and 9th grade, we made a trip to Nogales whenever family would come to visit us (1990-92). We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Im leaning towards no after weighing all of your information. The city was ranked as one of the 5 best cities to live in Mexico. Lots of street vendors came by during out waiting hours offering drinks, food, crafts. Year over year crime in Nogales has decreased by 7%. Uber in Mexico tends to be cheaper than in the U.S. Prices will vary, but plan to pay about $75-100 pesos ($3.50-5USD) for 20 minute rides. As mentioned above, Los Cabos is currently the deadliest city in Mexico. It shares a 230-mile border with Texas, and murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion and sexual assault commonly occur, the State Department says. Safety Facts about Ciudad Juarez. When they investigated, they found the young mans lifeless body in an alley. Jen, No one searched or x-rayed our bags. victim or witness of a crime, reports or establishes the facts in front of the pertinent authorities, reporting an . At around 1:40 AM Wednesday, police stopped to investigate a person lying in the street outside a local bar. The article was picked up by, Our coverage of the arrest of Chapitos co-founder Ovidio Guzmn Lpez in Mexico has received worldwide attention.In the UK, outlets includingThe IndependentandBBC. No pass/card? We left our car in a lot on the U.S. side of Nogales and walked across the border. By Cecilia Ball. I have visited Nogales many times. We really didnt know if it was safe, or of the stories of shootouts in the streets were true. The shop owners laugh & tell me how smart I am. (LogOut/ Visit Tijuana Explore Mexicos Culture And History In Just One Day From Shelbyville KY! Joey was only asked, wheres home, before being waved through. ", She adds: "The bad people are in the far-reaching parts of the city, not here in downtown.". According to the report, violent crimes in Texas border counties accounted for roughly half of the states total crime. The main driving point of crime is a large number of drug cartels moving into the city. Each of the Texas communities with the lowest rates of officer fatalities and assaults is within reach of the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2010, the municipality had a population of 264,782 people spread out over 714.2 km2. On Saturday at 1:18 a.m., however, a man was shot and killed at a taco stand on Avenida Obregon. Border Patrol agents discovered a tunnel beneath the street in October 2020. ! I look nothing like her, but I assumed shes the only famous black woman hes familiar with. Once again & I do feel better and ready to make another visit. The Australian government also expresses concern about the safety of areas frequented by vacationers. The goal of the operation is to increase the law-enforcement presence in the city and create deterrence, Ramrez says. It is located in the state of Veracruz, on the border of the United States and Mexico. Oh were over the age of 62, was the scornful reply to us rabble still waiting in line. Four of the 11 Mexican states that the State Department says Americans should "reconsider" traveling to Chihuahua,Coahuila, NuevoLeon and Sonoraborder the USA. Even though I failed to follow my own rule of never eating on the tourist strip, both meals were inexpensive and pretty good. "I find myself with the need to ask you, the heads of the cartels in Sonora[Jos Crispn] Salazar, [Rafael] Caro Quintero and the rest of you cartel leaders, to not kill us, to not disappear us, said Ceci Patricia Flores Armenta, who is the head of Madres Buscadoras de Sonora. As soon as you cross the border walk three blocks on Campillo Street, then turn left on Obregon Street. It will likely take more than a plea to ease the siege-like conditions. {Photographer: Brett Gundlock/Bloomberg). This week, InSight Crimes Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. I wont be heading to the states for awhile (except to go to PetSmart). Even though it was a Tuesday and the middle of the day, there were a lot of people just sitting around and doing nothing in Nogales. The incident, which occurred in the early morning of Aug. 16, left two dead and two others wounded. Mexico officially did away with the siesta a few years ago. This represented the lowest crime incidence . Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Tucson, AZ. The sons are known collectively as the Chapitos. The explosion of violence in Sonora has repeatedly been blamed on the return of Rafael Caro Quintero, a veteran trafficker who has long been included on the US Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) most wanted list for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena. Hours later, the vehicle in question was engulfed in flames south of Nogales, in a lot between the Monarcas and Bellotas subdivisions. It will destroy their sewer or septic systems. I thought to myself that no one in this line has ever snaked their way through three hours of customs at London-Heathrow. Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Twice On different occasions I had to walk to the border to use the restroom, (no restrooms on the mexican side) and if I had not been traveling in a group so someone else was able to take the wheel I dont know what I would have done. Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. Theres a very rich and diverse culture just over the border. Holes big enough for your entire foot and leg to pass through are also common. In this age range, the largest number of residents were between the ages of 10 and 14 (25,621), 15 to 19 (24,351), and 20 to 24 (23,942). Do you usually stay with friends or in town? Many speak english also and are very kind to help. The main shopping areas are on Campillo and Obregon streets. The Caborca Cartel has sought reinforcements in its battle with the Guzmans, aligning with the Lnea, a group formed from the armed wing of the old Jurez Cartel. In comparison to Arizona, the property crime rate in Nogales is 16.32%, which is still lower than the state average. A police officer stands guard after a shooting victim was brought to a hospital in Cancun, Mexico, [+] last July. Compare Nogales with: We need more contributors for Nogales to increase our data quality. Summary of cost of living in Nogales. There is no international airport. A few kind words in Spanish wouldnt hurt to learn, either. Traveling to those states is as dangerous, according to the State Department's safety ratings, as traveling to Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. We werent allowed to visit even the U.S. side of Douglas or Nogales. The man, however, was nowhere to be found. Better than the U.S. in our opinion. "Armed criminal groups target public and private passenger buses traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers hostage and demanding ransom payments.. "We're taking out of circulation anyone who has an arrest warrant, driving an illegal car," says Ramrez, "so that delinquents aren't on the streets.". Its also not a stretch to say that Nogales is the worst smelling place Ive ever visited. or no tengo monedas, I dont have any coins is good, I disagree with the person who said the locals ask for dollars, they would be extremely happy Cocaine, synthetic drugs, weapons, migrants, gasoline - this range of criminal economies has seen violence escalate in Mexico's northern state, Scammers in Mexico have yet again evolved their modus operandi by using express credit apps to extort users and drain. This photo provided by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office in Nogales, Arizona, shows rancher George Alan Kelly, 73, who is being held on $1 million bond in the fatal shooting last week of a . I wanted to go to Mexico since we were so close to the border. Ive seen CBP make them wait or send them back. The municipal capital, which is located in the municipalitys central business district, is located on the banks of the Nogales River. Americans cross the border to go to the dentist and buy cheap prescription drugs and and then leave. "Be cautious and discreet about discussing your financial or business affairs.". The minimal risks associated with going to Nogales, Sonora, are no different from traveling to Tucson or Phoenix, where gang and criminal activity occur frequently, too, she says. Although I did my best to hide my wealth by dressing in a jeans and t-shirt, and leaving the jewelry and expensive bag at home, we still looked like wealthy gringos. Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of crime and kidnapping. Prior to that, I typically stayed at Fray Marcos de Niza which is right on Campillo. To be safe, bring only what you need: U.S Customs and Border Protection has strict guidelines for bringing medicine across the border. The current travel alert expires in October, at which time officials must decide whether to reissue it and whether to revise any of the warnings. Likewise, the perception of people of diverse populations is important. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Nogales. I have my own apartment now, about 10 minutes from the border. Do you live in . I never had any issues whatsoever- all I came across was very nice and helpful people. My visit was uneventful, but its easy to see how a serious injury could occur. Hey, Jen, thanks for the narrative. Nogales is a great place to see the sights and experience the culture of Mexico. Get a Global Entry pass/card in the Sentry Program from Homeland Security. The alleyway of Pasaje Morelos has been restyled as an open-air shopping strip. Most merchants prefer US dollars (paper currency, not coins) over Mexican pesos to settle transactions. Purchasing a trinket isnt even on the radar. But Mexico is still waiting for the funds as it wages its battle against the criminal organizations. The two entered into a quasi-peace agreement following deadly gunfights in May 2007 in Cananea, Sonora, but that lasted only about a year, Coulson says. Not once was I hounded to buy anything or stared at for looking different. Although a pair of $15 Aztec-themed onyx bookends caught my eye, I had nowhere to put them and didnt feel like carrying them around. You really should carry personal wipes and never ever put anything in toilet. It took me four and a half hours to get back out. Nogales is a city in Sonora, Mexico, on the border of the United States and Mexico. In July 2021, for example, a wave of shootings took place over the course of three days in Magdalena de Kino. Is Tucson a border town? I was there just this past Sunday for the first time and actually did not feel any danger but after reading what was said, I was going to never come back for thinking my life is in immediate danger. Even with a slight decrease this year, Arizona accounts for 43 percent of all seized marijuana along the southwestern U.S. border despite having only 13 percent of the nearly 2,000 miles of the border, Coulson says. 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