Something is up in Ciudad Juarez

[rabs]

U.S. Consulate, Ciudad Juarez

Subject: U.S. Consulate General Juarez, Mexico Warden Message July 29, 2010
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:18:45 -0600
From: [email protected]


WARDEN MESSAGE

U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez

July 29, 2010

The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez is closed on July 30, 2010 to review its security posture. American citizens are advised avoid the area around the Consulate General until it reopens. Authorities are investigating the situation.

The Consulate General has cancelled all scheduled appointments and services for Friday, July 30, . As soon as we can reopen we will inform the public by a warden notice and posting on our web page.

American citizens with appointments for passport or other services may make a new appointment via the Consulate website below. For non-immigrant visa applicants, our call center will call or e-mail applicants to reschedule appointments. Alternatively, applicants may re-schedule non-immigrant visa appointments without being charged by calling 01-800-719-2525. Immigrant visa applicants should be advised that the medical clinics where they will receive their medical exams may also close on short notice. Immigrant visa applicants will be rescheduled for their interviews at a later date.

American citizens who need emergency services only should call the Consulate General duty officer at 656 327 7877 for assistance.



American Citizens Services
U.S. Consulate General
Paseo de la Victoria 3650
32543 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua CP 32543
Tel: (011) (52) 656-227-3000
For after-hours emergencies only, call 656-327-7877 for the duty officer.
e-mail: [email protected]; website: http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/

This email is UNCLASSIFIED

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There was a car bomb explosion in Juarez two weeks ago. Grafitti on walls said a much larger car bomb would go off today if the U.S. DEA and FBI did not investigate the role of the Mexican Federal Police's links to the Juarez Cartel. The warnings were issued by the Sinaloa Cartel, which is at war with the Juarez Cartel.

The Juarez newspaper El Diario is reporting this tonight:

Cierra Consulado temporalmente por seguridad

Juan de Dios Olivas
El Diario | 29-07-2010 | 20:32 | Local

Por cuestiones de seguridad, el Consulado General de Estados Unidos en Ciudad Juárez, anunció esta noche que cerrará sus puertas mañana viernes para implementar una revisión en sus instalaciones y descartar cualquier riesgo de ataque, informaron representantes de la sede diplomática.

La medida coincide con la amenaza de más ataques explosivos lanzada hace dos semanas por grupos del crimen organizado que se disputan la ciudad.

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I get these "Warden Messages" from a U.S. citizen who lives in Juarez. This person told me tonight that the city was tense all day today so the family stayed at home. So far no explosion.

From the photo, it looks like the "security posture" of the consulate is awfully flimsy so suspect that is the reason for the temporary closure.

[Wilms]

1. A US official said the consulate had closed following a "credible threat".

30 July 2010 Last updated at 00:59 ET

US closes its consulate in Ciudad Juarez

The US has closed indefinitely its consulate in Ciudad Juarez, the Mexican city worst affected by the drugs war being fought by rival gangs.

A statement from the US embassy in Mexico City said the consulate would remain shut until a security review is completed.

In 2009, more than 2,600 people died in drug-related violence in Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
MEXICO'S DRUGS WAR

A US official said the consulate had closed following a "credible threat".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10813405

[Judi Lynn]

2. It's very mysterious at this point.

AFP:

US closes consulate in Mexico's Ciudad Juarez
(AFP) – 3 hours ago

MEXICO CITY — The United States has closed indefinitely its consulate in the violence-hit Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez while it carries out a "security review," officials said Friday.

"The US consulate general in Ciudad Juarez has closed to review its security posture," said a statement released by the US embassy in Mexico City.

"The facility will be closed all day on Friday, July 30, and remain closed until the security review is completed."

US officials added: "American citizens are advised avoid the area around the consulate general until it reopens."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hxvX5IgybeHFgNGVexB0gbscM0gw

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Didn't they have a female employee who was killed with her husband in their car several months ago?

Since the violence of this magnitude didn't happen 'til after Calderon let _Bush set up "Plan Mexico" maybe it would be better if they opted OUT of it, and went back to the lesser level of violence they USED to have before this living hell.

They had 6,000 murders in Juarez in 2008.

Hope your friend and his family will make it through this without harm.