As drug violence continues to soar in the Mexican bordertown of Tijuana, the military has barred Marines from visiting. Lt. General Samuel Helland of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton said that they have restricted travel to Mexico for the units 44,000 members.

Mike Alvarez, the unit's civilian public information officer, told reporters, "The situation in Mexico is now more dangerous than usual. The intent is just to look out for the Marines' safety and well-being."

In 2008, 843 people were killed in Tijuana, a dramatic increase from the 2007 death toll of 337. Many of the murders were execution style, with bodies found decapitated.

The order was first enacted for the Christmas holidays, but the order was last week extended indefinitely.