Travel question

[DR60]

Originally Posted by rtaggio

Perhaps you should watch less FAUX news and get more real world experience. Just finished spending months (Nov-mid Feb) in the Mexican border areas from Brownsville to San Diego. Zero issues

It's not that there are not problems, just that as a RV'er you will not see or become involved with them. DR

[Nwcid]

Originally Posted by rtaggio

Read all the responses from people with experiences there, and they all speak the same, NO ISSUES.

I never claimed there were "NO ISSUES" with illegal immigration in the south and southwest. It is a huge issue costing obscene amounts of money.

What myself, and others reported on was the issue of safety in these areas based on the OP's question. Please do not put words in my mouth that I did not say

[Bobby F]

Originally Posted by rtaggio

Read all the responses from people with experiences there, and they all speak the same, NO ISSUES.

I agree with you completely. I think it's safe. I'm just saying, the OP, who lives far away from here, took the initiative to ask the question of people who do have the experience. Can't fault him for that at all. There really are no dumb questions.

[Rob_M]

You will be plenty safe in any rv park close to the border, but we tend to avoid staying close to Laredo and El Paso as those areas have a reputation.
We also don’t boondock by ourselves close to the border.

We wouldn’t boondock in East St.Louis either. lol.

Illegals trekking through the desert will only risk being seen if they are desperately looking for water or food.

Like this poor fellow caught looking for water close to my friend’s house outside Terlingua.

[Isaac-1]

I personally don't think camping near the border is as safe as it was 30 years ago, however the same can be said about much of the US. As to my personal feeling of safety, I would not currently camp in remote isolated areas along the border (less than 20 miles from the border), but I would be ok camping at established campgrounds, rest areas, etc.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

I personally don't think camping near the border is as safe as it was 30 years ago, however the same can be said about much of the US. As to my personal feeling of safety, I would not currently camp in remote isolated areas along the border (less than 20 miles from the border), but I would be ok camping at established campgrounds, rest areas, etc.

There is safety in numbers for sure.
My co-worker’s brother has a 3,000+ acre ranch not far from Sanderson TX. Until recent years they never had illegal walking traffic through there. I asked about taking the UTV’s out there and tent camping way back on the property and he said he wouldn’t do it because of the increased presence. They stay in the ranch house when there.

Some folks put water bottles out to eliminate the temptation of breaking in. A person literally dieing of thirst will do what they have to do to survive. As any human would.

Years ago the vast amount of desert on both sides of the Rio Grande limited the amount of illegals crossing in these very remote areas. They are regularly finding groups of Guatemalans making it through there and strangely they are all outfitted exactly the same. Same clothes jackets and backpacks. None of them appear to be looking to harm anyone. The one fellow we talked to in Terlingua was a Guatemalan, and said he was going to Ohio. ? didn’t make too much sense. Maybe just a place he had heard of.? Who knows. The poor guy was literally in tears.

[Marine359]

Last year, we traversed from North Carolina through Georgia and Florida to Southern California. We spent many nights in the deserts of Arizona and California on BLM within 50 miles of the border. We saw immigrants, but have never considered them a threat. We just don’t get this insane fear people have of undocumented immigrants. Yes, there may be some dangerous folks, but I certainly feel safer boondocking near the border than boondocking in Idaho. Let’s face it, if immigrants were attacking campers on BLM land, don’t you think we’d hear about it on certain news outlets?

[ArtJoyce]

In 2020 we camped 500 yards from the boarder at big bend ranch. No issues

[Isaac-1]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Let’s face it, if immigrants were attacking campers on BLM land, don’t you think we’d hear about it on certain news outlets?

Such things do happen, there was a couple that were murdered while beach camping near the border and their truck and travel trailer were stolen. This was in late 2019 just before Covid hit, I remember it because I was driving east on I-10 into El Paso, Texas insight of Mexico in our motorhome when the news broke.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Such things do happen, there was a couple that were murdered while beach camping near the border and their truck and travel trailer were stolen. This was in late 2019 just before Covid hit, I remember it because I was driving east on I-10 into El Paso, Texas insight of Mexico in our motorhome when the news broke.

Please don't blame a border crosser.

This was done by an American who took the RV into Mexico. He and his girlfriend were captured. Here's a picture of him.

https://www.wmur.com/article/case-ti...texas/29722710

They were both in criminal trouble previously... in the U.S.

https://www.wmur.com/article/live-st...-case/29737082

[Isaac-1]

I do not blame those entering the US for this, but do feel this contributes to the overall atmosphere of border related crime and violence given the fact that the criminals here fled to Mexico with the stolen vehicle and trailer.

[Bobby F]

I feel safer here (SW AZ) than I do in my nice Minneapolis suburb.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

I do not blame those entering the US for this, but do feel this contributes to the overall atmosphere of border related crime and violence given the fact that the criminals here fled to Mexico with the stolen vehicle and trailer.

Sorry you feel that way. Those not living near the border just don't understand some things.

They fled to Mexico to get to another country to try and disappear. They knew they'd be caught sooner if they stayed in the U.S. It's just like a criminal fleeing Italy for France to try and hide out. Mexico has nothing to do with it.

Border crossers, for the most part, are not criminals. They are desperate families and are good people just trying to escape horror. Yes, there are drug cartels but they wouldn't be in business if those in the U.S. would stop buying and supplying. That stuff doesn't happen anywhere near the border. It happens in the U.S. cities and U.S. citizens are involved.

People forget about the school and business rampages and killings and everyday crime in our own cities committed by our own citizens.

There's a lot more to the story than is on the so-called 'news'.

[twogypsies]

We haven't heard back from the original poster so hope he wasn't scared off.

The border areas are safe. There are many RV parks and millions travel and stay. The towns are just like any other town in the U.S. I hope you'll continue planning your trip. Lots of beauty and wonderful people in the Southwest.... and everywhere else.