Travelers are advised to obey local laws

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat The Nogales jail, El Centro de Radapacion Social, in Sonora, Mexico, has held many Americans arrested south of the border. People going into Mexico for spring break should not bring firearms, drugs and other contraband, because they can cause trouble with the Mexican police and customs agents, and may result in jail time under Mexican law.

"Many young people will go to popular resort areas and overindulge in alcohol, assuming that because the atmosphere appears more laid back than in the states, such conduct will be overlooked by the local authorities," Katherine Munchmeyer, press officer at the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the State Department, said in the release.

Munchmeyer said students often assume they are immune to prosecution by foreign officials because they are American citizens.

However, this is not the case.

"Once an American leaves United States soil, U.S. laws and constitutional rights no longer apply," Munchmeyer said.

If travelers find themselves in legal trouble while visiting a foreign country, they should immediately contact the nearest American consulate or embassy in that country.

"Basically, (if you are arrested), call the embassy and give them the information of your situation," said Peter Thorin, arrest and detentions officer for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Once the nearest U.S. consulate has been contacted, representatives can give a person advice and recommend attorneys.

Representatives can also contact family members to make them aware of the situation, Thorin said.

The consulate and American embassies in foreign countries can help American citizens obtain legal assistance but cannot get a person released.

In short, American officials cannot interfere with the judicial systems of other countries, Thorin and Munchmeyer said.

Thorin warned students about carrying guns across the Mexican border.

"Possession of guns in Mexico is taken very seriously," he said. "The punishment for this can range from deportation to a couple of months in jail to a couple of years."

"When you cross the border, you've just crossed into a Third World country," said Rob Daniels, public information officer for the Tucson office of the United States Border Patrol. "Americans must realize that they have to abide by the laws. Your behavior ... anything you bring will with you they will stop and check."

Luis Cabrera, Consul General of Mexico, said most Americans are arrested for the use or trafficking of drugs, drunk driving and bringing guns into Mexico.

Mexican prisons are not a positive place, said Gonzalo Perez Ascolani, director of the Centro de Radapacion Social, a Sonora, Mexico jail.

"There are about 60 guards and 873 inmates, about five per cell," Ascolani said. "The prison was built for 250 inmates."

Americans arrested in Mexico are placed in cells with various criminals, both Mexican and American.

Some students who vacation in Mexico had no trouble with Mexican authorities during their stay in the country.

Others, however, did hear of people having trouble with Mexican authorities in Puerto Peuasco, Mexico.

"I was scared when I saw some guys being arrested on the beach for lighting fireworks. My friends and I did not have any trouble with Mexican authorities while we were in Rocky Point (Puerto Peuasco, Sonora, Mexico)," Megan Feltes, a chemistry sophomore, said.

Feltes said a sign stated that fireworks were not allowed to be lit on the beach.

Thorin suggested that students traveling in Mexico should carry a passport and a second form of identification.

"You can make it all the way through the country without a passport, but it is a good idea to carry it or a birth certificate as well as a driver's license," Thorin said.

Phoenix correspondent Lisa Heller contributed to this report.