Fort Bliss: No Military Personnel Allowed In Cd. Juarez

By Veronique Masterson

EL PASO — Violence in Ciudad Juarez and the movement of a high-ranking Mexican police official to a local hospital has put authorities from both countries on heightened security alert.

Now, military officials with Fort Bliss are establishing a position for those soldiers stationed here.Saturday, officials said Ciudad Juarez is temporarily off-limits to all military personnel. A statement released said, “[the] decision is based on the unacceptable risk to the health, safety, welfare and morale of military personnel.”

Friday, Mexican Federal police arrived in Juarez to stem the violence targeting public officials and often, leaving civilians, from both sides of the border in the middle. Earlier in the week, two municipal police officers were killed and a police commander was ambushed, the vehicle he was riding in sprayed with bullets from six different types of guns.

People crossing the international bridges between Juarez and El Paso said that despite the violence and the risk, life must carry on.

“We’re going to go over really quick and come back as quickly as we can,” said Veronica Arroyo.

Officials on post said it is not arisk they are willing to allow military personnel to take. The said in one to two weeks, they may re-evaluate the situation and possibly make a change at that time.