Fort Bliss working on allowing soldiers to visit Juarez

Fort Bliss officials are beginning the process to allow soldiers and their families to take day trips to Juarez.

“Since the violence has reduced dramatically in El Paso’s sister city of Juarez – from more than 3,000 homicides in 2010 to 870 homicides in 2012 – we are beginning the process of one day in the future allowing Soldiers and families to take day trips to safe areas of Juarez,” Dana Pittard, Fort Bliss Commanding General wrote in his column in the Fort Bliss Monitor.

Pittard wrote that they are working with the U.S. Consulate in Juarez and NORTHCOM on getting approval.

“If approved, we would eventually allow Soldiers with an authorized pass, passport, and security briefing to visit Juarez during the day on a limited visit. We hope to have this approved by the end of the year,” Pittard wrote.

Fort Bliss officials stopped allowing soldiers to visit Juarez starting in Jan. 2008 because of the escalating violence at the time.