Mexico travel OK despite safety alert

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - As thousands of people across the United States gear up for Spring Break the U. S. State Department is warning people who are going to Mexico to use extra caution.

In a press release the department said every year more than 100,000 teens and young people go to Mexico for Spring Break. 

"While the vast majority enjoys their vacation without incident, several may die, hundreds will be arrested and still more will make mistakes that could affect them for the rest of their lives," the release said.

The warning is mainly about border cities where police and drug lords are in the middle of violent fighting.

"It's very violent. There are kidnappings on both sides of the border, sheriff's are getting killed, there's no way it's a place kids should go for Spring Break," Congressman Mark Souder (R) said.

But, that violence is in cities on the U.S.-Mexican border. Souder said most the Spring Break hot-spots are on the Gulf Coast and aren't as dangerous.

"Many of the coastal Spring Break beach cities, Cancun, Cozumel, are not any more violent than they used to be. It can be more violent in some of our cities," Souder said.

Common sense can help people stay safe.

"Stay on the resort, stay in well-lit public areas known for tourism, don't be out late at night running around," Travel Agent for Covington Travel Carol Cornell said. "Don't go off with strangers and stay in groups."

Cornell said several people called concerned about their Mexico vacation plans, but so for no one has canceled a trip.

Students at IPFW were getting ready for Spring Break Friday. Sophomore Ross Sawyer is going to Naples, Florida with some friends and said he doesn't think people should change their Mexico plans.

"As long as you go down there and are not getting too wild, it will be alright. Don't drink the water and don't get into too much trouble," Sawyer said.

Freshman Amber Mays agreed.

"As long as they're careful, I say go for it," Mays said.

Would the Mexico travel alert change your travel plans? Tell Alyssa Ivanson your thoughts on Twitter.