Secretary of State releases student travel warning
Issue date: 3/12/04 Section: News
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The Triangle received a letter from the office of Secretary of State Colin Powell urging students that are traveling abroad for spring and summer trips to exercise caution in foreign nations.
While in foreign countries, students run the risk of being arrested by foreign law enforcers, according to the memo. Almost half of all United States citizens that are arrested abroad each year are charged with possessing narcotics, even if the drugs are in small amounts. A drug that is legal in one country may not be legal in another.
Often times, arrests are made because students are unaware of local laws, the memo said. Unfortunately, the legal systems in other countries are usually not like those in the U.S. The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for protecting U.S. citizens overseas, but many times they are unable to release citizens being held prisoner.
There are other ways U.S. citizens can find themselves detained in a foreign nation. Many countries have laws that can land anyone in jail by disturbing the peace.
Often times, the safety standards are not the same in foreign countries as they are in America, making accidents more prone to occur. Also, citizens of foreign nations have reportedly, at times, taken advantage of unsuspecting American tourists who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol by sexually assaulting or robbing them.
The Secretary of State encourages students traveling abroad to read their information page at http://travel.state.gov/studentinfo.html.
While in foreign countries, students run the risk of being arrested by foreign law enforcers, according to the memo. Almost half of all United States citizens that are arrested abroad each year are charged with possessing narcotics, even if the drugs are in small amounts. A drug that is legal in one country may not be legal in another.
Often times, arrests are made because students are unaware of local laws, the memo said. Unfortunately, the legal systems in other countries are usually not like those in the U.S. The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for protecting U.S. citizens overseas, but many times they are unable to release citizens being held prisoner.
There are other ways U.S. citizens can find themselves detained in a foreign nation. Many countries have laws that can land anyone in jail by disturbing the peace.
Often times, the safety standards are not the same in foreign countries as they are in America, making accidents more prone to occur. Also, citizens of foreign nations have reportedly, at times, taken advantage of unsuspecting American tourists who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol by sexually assaulting or robbing them.
The Secretary of State encourages students traveling abroad to read their information page at http://travel.state.gov/studentinfo.html.
