In San Diego's shadow, Tijuana residents fear possible attacks

By MICHELLE MORGANTE
Associated Press Writer

TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) In the shadow of one of the United States' most important military installations, many residents of this Mexican border city live in uncertainty, fearful that a terrorist strike against San Diego could hurt them as well.

``If they do something to the people of the United States, they're doing it to us, too. We in Tijuana are stuck to the United States,'' said Linda Banuelos, a 17-year-old high school student who waited in line recently to cross the border. ``Yes, I'm afraid.''

Worries about chemical attacks and other forms of terrorist retaliation have provoked concern at several points along the country's borders with Mexico and Canada. Officials have warned travelers crossing both ways to be vigilant.

San Diego, with its combination of Navy and Marine bases, ``is one of the biggest targets. Whatever happens will affect the whole area,'' Tijuana police officer Mauricio Mesta, 35, said as he patrolled Avenida Revolucion, a popular tourist zone, on his motorcycle.

Clerks, shoppers, students and vendors who expressed worry said they were disappointed that diplomacy and dialogue had failed to prevent the U.S. military attack against Saddam Hussein's regime. Some applauded Mexican President Vicente Fox for not giving Mexican support to the U.S. strike.

``We are all against the war, all of the people of Tijuana, Mexico and Latin America,'' said Romero Moreno Carlos, 50, a pharmacist.

One impact of the war already is being felt in Tijuana.

Moreno's pharmacy on Avenida Revolucion stood empty of customers on a recent afternoon. Since the U.S. attack began Wednesday, tourism on the strip of shops and garish discos catering to foreigners has fallen dramatically, several workers said.

``Tourism has gone down a lot since the conflict started,'' said Eugenio Reyes, 35, who photographs tourists atop a burro painted with zebra stripes. ``There are some tourists from Japan, China, Germany. But Americans? Almost none.''

Concerns about tightened security checks at the border have many in Tijuana saying they'll likely avoid crossing the border for shopping or visiting. A morning Spanish-language radio show urged people to only cross the border for work or school.

One anti-war group launched an e-mail campaign urging Mexicans to boycott U.S. businesses and U.S.-made products.

Last week, rumors that the U.S. military strike would force closure of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world's busiest border crossing, led many Tijuana residents to avoid it. Traffic lanes leading up to the port were nearly empty.

The concern about terrorism includes fears that Mexico could be used as a staging ground for an attack on the United States. Mexican soldiers are guarding energy plants, oil refineries and other industries. Federal police have increased their patrols at airports.

California Gov. Gray Davis is to be in San Diego on Wednesday to coordinate border-security measures with the governor of Mexico's Baja California state, Eugenio Elorduy Walther.

U.S. agents have been closely scrutinizing visa and identity documents at border crossing points with Mexico and Canada since President Bush raised the nation's terror alert level to orange, the second-highest level, Monday and warned that terrorists may strike U.S. interests in response to action against Iraq.

In El Paso, Texas, home to the Fort Bliss Army base, media reports of Iraqis circulating in Mexico with biochemical weapons prompted many border-crossers on both sides to stay home for fear they would be stranded.

An FBI official said the reports had not been substantiated.

In Nuevo Laredo, a Mexican city across from Laredo, Texas, U.S. Consul Thomas Armbruster warned Americans to avoid, if possible, places where Americans and foreigners normally gather.

``Now more than ever it is very important to maintain a high sense of vigilance and alert,'' he said.

In Detroit, which has two major crossings to Canada, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said the city's emergency plan focuses heavily on security at the Canadian border crossings and along the Detroit River.

``I pray to God every day for peace,'' said Hidalia Garcia, 50, who sells tamales outside Tijuana's downtown cathedral. ``Hopefully, they'll reach an accord before much blood is spilled.''

Silvestro Antonio Barzan Barzan towed a large suitcase toward the border Friday. The 44-year-old laborer from the state of Michoacan was heading to work in Oregon despite feeling uneasy about being in the United States at a time of war.

``I have to provide for my children,'' he said.

Reyes, the photographer with the burro, said he wished Bush and Saddam Hussein would resolve their dispute without putting the rest of the world in danger.

``It's their problem, and I don't really understand what their problem is,'' he said. ``They should lock them both in a room and let them fight it out between themselves.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)