Crime drives Juarense into exile
EL PASO — Federico De la Vega, often described as one of the influential voices in Jurez, once publicly told Mexican President Felipe Caldern that he lives in El Paso because his own government cannot guarantee his safety.
De la Vega, 77, is among untold numbers of Jurez residents who are adjusting to life in exile in El Paso because of a relentless orgy of crime in Jurez: kidnappings, carjackings, arsons, break-ins, assaults and shootings — much of it often blamed on drug addiction and narcotics smuggling.
[…]
He contends that corruption at all levels of government is responsible for the failure of law and order in Jurez. Almost 800 people have been killed in Jurez so far in 2009, compared with an estimated 1,600 slain in all of 2008.
[…]
“I hope it calms down in Jurez. If it does, I and my family will go back,” he said. “If it stays violent, then we’ll have to do what some of these people in the Mexican Revolution did, settling here permanently.”
[…]