:tup: :tup:
ARTICLE #1
Hundreds of teenagers return to United States after schools for troubled youth closed in Mexico
Saturday, September11, 2004, 11:36 PM
MEXICO CITY Hundreds of American teens are being picked up in northern Mexico by their parents after state and federal authorities closed down three schools for troubled youth.
Nearly 540 teenagers in all were released, most of them U-S citizens.
Mexican authorities recently carried out a surprise inspection of the three treatment centers for troubled teens.
A U-S consular official says there have been no proven cases of abuse "at this point."
The official says she expects every American to be back in the U-S by the end of the night.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ARTICLE #2
Hundreds of teens return to US after schools closed in Mexico
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY - Parents picked up hundreds of U.S. teenagers Saturday from northern Mexico after state and federal authorities closed down three schools for troubled youth, according to a U.S. consular official.
About 538 teenagers - the vast majority U.S. citizens - were being returned home after authorities shut down Casa by the Sea in Ensenada, located on the Pacific coast about 60 miles (100 kms) south of San Diego, said Liza Davis, public affairs officer with U.S. Consulate in Tijuana.
Most the teenagers being repatriated belonged to families in California and Arizona. But Davis said she met people who had traveled from Virginia, Wisconsin and Florida to collect family members.
Roughly 50 teenagers from two other facilities - Casa de la Esperanza in Ensenada and Genesis in Rosarito, about 15 miles (25 kms) south of the U.S. border - already had left Mexico on Saturday after the schools were closed, Davis said.
"We anticipate by this evening to have all of the kids back in the U.S.," said Davis, speaking from Casa by the Sea.
Mexican immigration and health authorities carried out a surprise inspection on Friday of the three treatment centers for teenagers with behavior and drug-related problems.
"At this point we don't have any substantiated cases of abuse," Davis said.
Mexican authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.
[ This Message was edited by: Kathy on 2004-09-12 02:56 ]
