I was 22 and in the USAF at the time. We deployed to Biggs Airfield / Ft Bliss for Desert War training. While there, we went to Juarez a couple of times. It was shady as hell then. In recent years, they have found countless shallow graves.....Families having their heads cut off by chain saw etc etc. Even in 1989, the "Police" were crooked as hell. We were briefed simply.... "DO NOT do anything stupid! If you do, they can jail you and your Bail / Ransom might be $5 or it might be $5000. And there's not a damned thing anyone is gonna do about it." In recent years, I have heard the Army has banned Ft Bliss Troops from going there.
USED to be the Tourist places were untouched but in recent years, I have heard otherwise. Even 20 years ago, it blew me away that Parents would give their Daughters money to travel down there alone or in small groups for Spring Break. There's just too many cool places I have not seen here in the States for me to risk my neck down there. Count me out!