Attorney General Tom Horne to Arizonans: "Have Fun, Prepare When Traveling Into Mexico"

Phoenix, AZ (Wednesday, June 5, 2013) - In the wake of Yanira Maldonado’s nine-day ordeal in a Mexico jail on groundless drug-trafficking accusations and the beginning of summer travel to Sonora, Mexico, Attorney General Tom Horne is today offering resources and tips in order to make sure that all Arizonans know what to do in case of an emergency or even an arrest in Mexico. All of the resources in this release may be found on the Attorney General’s website at https://www.azag.gov/mexico-travel

“Mexico is a popular vacation destination for Arizonans,” said Attorney General Tom Horne. “With recent events in the news, it is important to remind people of the resources available to U.S. citizens so that they can enjoy peace of mind when traveling to Sonora over this summer season.”

The United States Government Office of American Citizens Services is one resource available. They provide a wide range of services to assist U.S. citizens traveling and/or residing in Mexico, including:

  • Safety and security information
  • Welfare and whereabouts checks
  • Assistance to arrested or detained U.S citizens
  • Emergency preparedness information
  • Providing general information for visiting Mexico such as exit/entry requirements, property issues, marriage and divorce, and spring break in Mexico

In addition to the above resource, prior to leaving the country travelers may want to review the Travel Warning for Mexico that provides detailed information about security issues affecting parts of the country, and Tips for Traveling Abroad, which provides important information to help ensure a safe trip. A person can also register with the U.S. Department of State in order to receive security updates as they are traveling. Once in Sonora, if you should encounter any kind of emergency the local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Mexico is “066”. 

If arrested, know your rights and tell arresting officer you are a US citizen and want to contact your consulate and/or an attorney. You may even consider maintaining a suggested list of attorneys that can assist if you are arrested. A helpful guide to Mexico’s Justice System can be found here.

Finally, Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services may be reached for assistance with emergencies at (888) 407-4747 if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or (202) 501-4444, if calling from overseas.