The claim: The U.S. border closed since of violence in Tijuana
As the Mexican federalgovernment continues to grapple with a recent wave of vehicle burnings and other attacks in Tijuana, some social media users have declared that the occurrences activated a border closure.
“The drug Cartels stated war! Tijuana under attack! All of Mexicali, Tecate and Rosarito locations are under high alert! The UnitedStates border hasactually been shut,” checksout an Aug. 13 Facebook post that was shared more than 300 times in 5 days.
While U.S. federalgovernment workers were temporarily told to shelter in location and there was a reduction in border traffic, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection representative informed USA TODAY there were no closures.
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USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for remark.
Mexican authorities “on alert,” however events did not lead to border closures
Violence in Tijuana and other parts of Mexico has risen over the past coupleof weeks, however the status of the border has not been impacted by it, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“There were no modifications for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at our border crossings; no closures and no brand-new limitations,” firm representative Jacqueline Wasiluk informed USA TODAY in an Aug. 18 e-mail.
The Los Angeles Times reported a decline in border traffic at one point, though it stated numbers “appeared to return to regular” by Aug. 16.
Mexican authorities did state they were “on alert” in Baja California, the state encompassing Tijuana and other locations discussed in the Facebook post, as reported by NBC San Diego.
The president of Mexico likewise checkedout the location and military supports were sentout into Tijuana to reinforce security, according to NPR.
The U.S. federalgovernment hasactually taken actions to offer with the violence, too.
U.S. federalgovernment workers were “instructed to shelter in location” in light of the occurrences, according to an Aug. 12 alert from the U.S. Mission to Mexico. The U.S. Consulate Tijuana provided an upgraded alert on Aug. 14 saying those guidelines were no longer in impact.
More: Authorities find drug smuggling tunnel 6 stories deep from Tijuana to San Diego
On August 17, the U.S. State Department likewise encouraged Americans to “reconsider travel” to Baja California and other parts of Mexico because of “an increased danger of criminaloffense and kidnapping” after releasing an alert a week earlier.
Our ranking: False
Based on our researchstudy, we rate FALSE the claim that the U.S. border closed since of violence in Tijuana. While authorities prompted Americans to reevaluate takeatrip and there was a drop in border crossings, a border patrol representative informed USA TODAY there were no closures or modifications to the border.
Our fact-check sources:
- National Public Radio, Aug. 20, The cartels bent their power in Tijuana — and now the fight for impact is on
- National Public Radio, Aug. 19, Violence appears in Tijuana, Mexico, following the arrest of a drug cartel leader
- Jacqueline Wasiluk, Aug. 18, Email to USA TODAY
- U.S. Department of Sta