My grandparents originally lived in the town of Gomez Palacio, Mexico, but they immigrated to the U.S. during the Mexican Revolution. They went through Eagle Pass and stayed for a time in South Texas, before moving on to Los Angeles, California, where they eventually worked as share-croppers in East L.A.
For years my relatives have vacationed at a family home we have on the beach in Baja, between Rosarito and Ensenada. But due to the birth of our twins, I hadn't been down there since 2005. At that time, the beach communities south of Tijuana were exploding with development. Huge hotels and condos were springing up along that beautiful coast, bringing a big boost to the economy.
This past December I went down there again for my uncle's funeral, and was shocked by how things have changed. Many of the big hotels and condo developments sit empty, and often unfinished. When we ate at our favorite restaurant in Rosarito, heavily armed police were everywhere, with their faces covered to conceal their identities from drug gangs.
People just aren't visiting. They are afraid of the killings and the kidnappings. You can feel the anxiety.
I don't know why I was so surprised. We at News 4 WOAI have been covering the violence in towns along the border between Texas and Mexico for years, and it has reached a peak this year. But for some reason I always thought of the violence as a regional problem, not effecting every part of Mexico.
My visit to Baja was further proof the drug violence has consumed much of that country, and even spilled over into tourist hot spots most people have considered "safe." In the past couple of months we've reported on violence in Ixtapa, Cancun, Acapulco, Mexico City, as well as the unrelenting attacks in Juarez. In some cases the murders and intimidation have crossed over into cities as far north as Phoenix, Arizona.
As someone whose life and family ties have stretched across the border between these two countries I am saddened to see the chaos, loss of life and loss of security. Here's hoping the increased attention to this neglected problem can somehow reverse the tide of lawlessness that has robbed residents and visitors of their loved ones and their feeling of safety.
