Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Deputy Director Jason Marczak is quoted by the Latin Business Chronicle on whether business travelers should be concerned by the safety situation in Mexico border cities:
Still, there are some bright spots along the border, according to Jason Marczak, deputy director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C. that promotes leadership on international affairs. “In the last couple of years, the streets of Ciudad Juarez have become increasingly safer and more secure,” Marczak says. “People are again going out at night, without the overhanging fear of violence en route to a restaurant or bar. A similar story is playing out in Tijuana, where crime began to noticeably drop starting in 2012.”
Marczak credits governmental efforts for the increased safety. “The Mexican government has pursued a multi-pronged approach to improving security, with a focus on recovering public space and putting in place programs geared toward at-risk youth,” he says. “This comes in addition to other public security measures. The United States continues to improve its cooperation with Mexican authorities, but better coordination, especially in the repatriation of unauthorized immigrants, is clearly necessary.”
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In practical terms, however, Marczak notes that while “U.S. travel warnings are an important indication of the safety of a particular country or region, [they] are generally more cautious than the on-the-ground situation dictates.”