Nuevo Progreso (San Antonio, McAllen, Allen: live in, restaurants, fence)

[Stay By The Phone]

Hey everyone, just wondering how safe Nuevo Progreso is along the border? Planning on making a drive down there soon for the afternoon and leaving before sundown. Also is the food alright to eat and drinks safe or no? I will have my photography gear with me and planning on parking on the Texas side and walking over, should I be alright?

Thanks.

[jennifw]

Originally Posted by Stay By The Phone

? I will have my photography gear with me and planning on parking on the Texas side and walking over, should I be alright?

Thanks.

Isn't it illegal to walk across the border even where there is no fence or visual border?

[Stay By The Phone]

They have a pedestrian walk bridge at the border...... Bring passport and your set.

[hellpaso]

I don't know of anyone that goes over there anymore, aside from the misguided Winter Texan or two. I certainly wouldn't be taking camera equipment into Mexico. Progreso doesn't even look like a real Mexican city, anyway. You might be able to go and return safely, but I don't understand why one would have any need to go there. You can get exactly the same thing on this side of the border, as many of the stores and restaurants in Progreso have closed since the drug war has entered the area. I know there have been reported instances (can't verify, but it sounds reasonable) of extortion in some of the remaining restaurants and bars. While I don't know off hand of any incidents there since the attack on Winter Texan day a couple of years ago, why tempt fate? The whole Mexican side of the border is very unstable right now. JMHO.

[Stay By The Phone]

Even during a Wednesday afternoon? Are a lot of Texans not even going there anymore? On google street view it looks pretty busy with old white folks, are you saying now it has changed or what? Thanks for the info by the way.

[hellpaso]

Ya it's changed. You're gonna find some who say it's safe, but I don't see any benefits to going. Not in Progreso, but in our same border area, 49 people were mutilated and decapitated just 80 miles from here on the road between Monterrey & McAllen this past Sunday. If there's no urgent need to go, I'd pick another area for an excursion!

[ChristieP]

Nowhere along the Mexico border is safe anymore. My in-laws live in Del Rio and they do not go across anymore due to the violence. If you do not believe us, go read the State Department's Travel Advisories. US government employees are not permitted to drive into Mexico, and they recommend deferring all nonessential travel in the states of Tamaulipas, Chihuahua and Coahuila.

[Westerntraveler]

not a good idea

[Stay By The Phone]

Thanks for the information everyone. So is the border right when you cross not gaurded by Mexican troops or anything? Also any safer border town near San Antonio then? Or would y'all just avoid the Mexico adventure all together? I saw the 40 bodies count in the news too but I don't plan on having a beer with the Cartel or anything..... I do appreciate all the information though, so any plan b tips?

[texan55]

nuevo progresso isnt bad at all. lots of winter texans still go there. just don't stray too far.


and the days of normal folks having drinks with members of the gulf cartel are long gone. you used to be able to go into the same restaurants with them, it wasn't a big deal.