EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Thousands of U.S. residents again will cross the border to visit extended family in Mexico during Holy Week. Most already know the way, but Mexican officials still want to assure them their trip will be safe.
Hundreds of police officers will be on patrol and security cameras throughout the state equipped with license plate readers will monitor for accidents, vehicle breakdowns and any possible criminal activity, officials in Chihuahua said.
“We know Juarez is the gateway to Mexico. We want people that pass through to relax and have the certainty they will be well here and go back to their homes without incident,” said Sergio Rodriguez, the city’s civil protection director.
Chihuahua Public Safety Secretary Gilberto Loya said crimes against visitors are rare and that the only current flashpoint for cartel violence is in the Aldama-Ojinaga corridor. Ojinaga is just south of Presidio, Texas.
His operations director, Ricardo Realivasquez, said common mishaps include car accidents and that the state police for the next week would avail its helicopters to transport injured motorists to hospitals.
According to the National Migration Institute, upwards of one million U.S. residents of Mexican origin are expected to venture south between the last week of March and the third week of April. That compares with 740,000 in 2024 and 1.7 million in 2023.