Safety issues in Southern Texas and Mexico border

qtla9111 wrote:
If anyone believes that what is happening in Mexico is not happening in the U.S. all the way to the Canadian border and beyond is being naive. The cartel activity is now well-embedded in over 200 U.S. cities, most of Europe and now Africa. The U.S. media is not reporting what is happening in U.S. cities and when they do the answer is always, "it's under investigation". They don't want to scare people. The facts are out there, people just need to read and investigate.

The danger in the RGV is limited to those who participate in illegal activities. As others have stated, there is no danger in going out at night, early morning or any other time. Have fun, enjoy the weather including the wind.

Well said and accurate.
When I arrived in the RGV last winter I asked a local law official areas I should avoid. The answer he gave me was pretty much what I would expect in any major city in the US. He also said avoid Mexico, in this area Progreso, Mexico is the safest destination. I travel in the RGV and really do not fear for my safety, I use common sense and ask myself do I need to be in this neighborhood at 10:00 PM, the same question I ask of myself in Baltimore, MD

He told me he had to be in school at 1:30. When I gave him the dollar he took off, all his buddies were following. He was gone a few minutes the he and his buddies were back working the crowd. Do you think he had to take the dollar to someone.

In most of Mexico, there are two shifts for elementary school, mornings (8 to 1pm)and afternoons (1:30 to 7p.m.). That is now changing and we are going back to full-day classrooms again in major cities.

My wife and I spent all morning and half the afternoon in Progresso. We had our teeth cleaned early, her dentist charged 25 mine was 40, but my dentist put earphones on me and I listened to soothing piano music. We both liked who we saw so we are going to stick with them. Went shopping, picked up some stuff our friends wanted, not liquor. Got to barter some. That was fun. Ended up in the Red Panty Bar for drinks, me Mexican coke, wife Long Island tea. Talked with some other patrons, let a kid shine the bottom edge of my tennis shoes for a buck. Tried to talk mextex with him. Ask him why he wasn't in school. All his friends were there trying to help me with the language. That was fun. Then I helped my wife back across and into my truck. Long Island tea!

So you choose what you feel comfortable with. But me and the wife are going back several more times before April......for more Long Island tea!!!

I drive back and forth every week from Monterrey to McAllen via Reynosa. Never an issue. The RGV is a hoppin' place in the winter and there is just so much to do. You can't get into restaurants, early bird specials abound. Progresso is a fun place to eat some good Mexican food, get a haircut, manicure, pedicure, and a cold beer.

At the rv park we are at during the week, they already are filling up. Activities everyday including field trips. For the price, you can't beat it. Who doesn't like a good deal.

Nearly 200,000 Winter Texans in south Texas, there must be some attraction.

As long as you stay on this side of the border then no the crime is no worse then any major city. Our Border Police do a good job of keeping that at bay. Oh and their main concern is no longer illegals but more drug running. If you stay in your fenced and patrolled RV parks you are fine. Even in town you can be fine. It is the rural areas that are suffering on our side of the border. If you have never seen the garbage left behind from illegals and the drug runners it is amazing. Looks like leftovers from a rock concert. They destroy the fencing and anything in their path. The ranchers there, who are very secluded from town and the law, worry and sleep with their guns since some very bad guys are crossing their land. Drugs = bad guys..... So yes you will be as safe in Brownsville as you would most US cities. Buuuuuut across the border they don't do one murder at a time or even 2 at a time. The body count there is counted by the dozens. And the murders don't happen in drug houses or dark alley's, they have running gun battles in the streets between the cartels and the Mexican police or army. That is where you can run into problems. And no you don't have to be involved in drugs, it's called cross fire, so practice duck and cover..... It seems most of these gun battles are in the open streets and yes innocent civilian do get killed by what they call stray bullets. So yes most of the time you can go about your business and be fine but it only takes one gun battle to change everything, and they don't advertise the time or place they will happen. Besides as Texans have said why go there???? There is so much more to offer in other places in Texas. We're just trying to help y'all out, ain't like there's anything in the Valley we are trying to keep secret.. lol lol.....I guess I should shut up cause winter is when we do most of our camping. If more people stay in the hill country then I could not get a spot to camp lol lol lol.....

In my younger days I would drive from Houston to Reynosa for a weekend of partying, cheap booze, food and women or SPI for surfing and a Saturday night in Matamoras. I never felt in danger in either place.
BUT, there is nothing to interest me there now. The only reason I do not vacation in RGV is it is not a vacation destination. It's no different crime wise than any other non-vacation destination. There are more high crime areas in Houston and San Antonio that I avoid. If you are going to stay in San Antonio to avoid crime you are in for a surprise.

naysmitj wrote:
You can see city statistics at this website.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Fort-Myers-Florida.html

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Brownsville-Texas.html

Cheers

Wow, I apologize. These statistics sure opened my eyes!

Murders per 1000,000: Ft. Myers, 31.7 Brownsville, .06

Auto Thefts /100,000: Ft. Myers, 313 Brownsville, 91.2

Overall Crime Rating: Ft. Myers, 561.4 Brownsville, 289.6
(higher the # The worse)

I promise I will never say that area has high crime!

You can see city statistics at this website.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Fort-Myers-Florida.html

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Brownsville-Texas.html

Cheers