Campground safety in southern NM and AZ

[JerryJ]

Thinking about a trip to southern Arizona and New Mexico and wondering if folks staying in commercial campgrounds in the area have experienced any trouble from migrants. News is full of stories about large numbers of migrants crossing the border causing problems, especially in Texas.
Any information appreciated.

[CAG]

No idea where you are staying but unless you park next to the border fence it is unlikely that you will even see an illegal.

I have back trailed, hiked and hunted most of SE Arizona sometimes within sight of the fence and never had an issue. Don't be out there at 2 AM and you won't have a problem.

[Kim Gass]

We have stayed in Tuscon, EL Paso and Carlsbad and Big Bend National Park on the border.

Never a problem, News is always full of stories. No news which applies almost all the time is not news.

As always your camping neighbors will have more influence than any migrants .

I suggest you stay home if you are that worried.

[TaftCoach]

I lived on the border in Texas while working in Mexico. I'd be more worried about my safety in Columbus.

[SloPoke]

For those of us who call rural Arizona our home... it is general knowledge that this is an open & concealed carry 2A state and the residents here take full advantage of that. I'll go to the grocery store and there are chances that I might see more holstered firearms than dozens of eggs while there.

The reality, the migrants that pass thru are doing their best to fit into everyday life and not make their situation noticeable. They notice that personal protection is part of our everyday life and don't challenge it.

If you are planning on boondocking in the dispersed lands (not commercial campgrounds) that might be a bit different, but the commercial campgrounds usually take the right steps to protect their customers.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

For those of us who call rural Arizona our home... it is general knowledge that this is an open & concealed carry 2A state and the residents here take full advantage of that. I'll go to the grocery store and there are chances that I might see more holstered firearms than dozens of eggs while there.

The reality, the migrants that pass thru are doing their best to fit into everyday life and not make their situation noticeable. They notice that personal protection is part of our everyday life and don't challenge it.

If you are planning on boondocking in the dispersed lands (not commercial campgrounds) that might be a bit different, but the commercial campgrounds usually take the right steps to protect their customers.

Amen brother

[CAG]

Originally Posted by SloPoke

For those of us who call rural Arizona our home... it is general knowledge that this is an open & concealed carry 2A state and the residents here take full advantage of that. I'll go to the grocery store and there are chances that I might see more holstered firearms than dozens of eggs while there.

The reality, the migrants that pass thru are doing their best to fit into everyday life and not make their situation noticeable. They notice that personal protection is part of our everyday life and don't challenge it.

If you are planning on boondocking in the dispersed lands (not commercial campgrounds) that might be a bit different, but the commercial campgrounds usually take the right steps to protect their customers.

I’m more worried about the untrained people with guns than the illegals. Most of them are unarmed.

The photo below my name BTW, is looking south at a mountain range in Mexico.

[Kim Gass]

There is BLM camping almost in the city limits of Tucson.. Such an assortment of camping gear made us wary. Being 2000 miles from home we did not want to lose tires batteries etc. So we used a commercial campground not far away.

I still wonder if the OP would be comfortable; hence my comment about staying home. Sometimes unfounded fears are real to the owner.

[ARoamer]

My DW will not do BLM / dispersed camping for fear of theft or vandalism. If group camping she'd feel ok with it, but if camping alone, does not like the idea of leaving the RV to explore the area.
Anyone have problems when BLM camping?

[GarlicDude]

IN Oct of last year we spent 2 nights outside of Carlsbad, NM and 2 nights in Hatch, NM, zero problems.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

My DW will not do BLM / dispersed camping for fear of theft or vandalism. If group camping she'd feel ok with it, but if camping alone, does not like the idea of leaving the RV to explore the area.
Anyone have problems when BLM camping?

Again it depends upon where you are camping. Those camping in areas along the border have had items stolen and campers broken into. Mostly for food and water. Some leave gallons of water set out when they are gone to avoid break ins. Those people are not looking for a confrontation and generally do not come into camp if someone is around.



Break ins in national forest locations during hunting seasons has become more of an issue than in years past but that has nothing to do with illegals. In 50+ years of camping in NF and BLM land I have never had a problem.


There was, however, a recent article in the local newspaper about the number of people who have begun "living" in NFs due to the costs of apartments etc. BLM is a bit of a different issue than forests, and in Arizona, state trust land is better controlled by permit and patrol.



Most people are oblivious to what is going on around them and become victims because of that.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

My DW will not do BLM / dispersed camping for fear of theft or vandalism. If group camping she'd feel ok with it, but if camping alone, does not like the idea of leaving the RV to explore the area.
Anyone have problems when BLM camping?

None at all... The best places are when boondocking!

[Falcon67]

Originally Posted by JerryJ

Thinking about a trip to southern Arizona and New Mexico and wondering if folks staying in commercial campgrounds in the area have experienced any trouble from migrants. News is full of stories about large numbers of migrants crossing the border causing problems, especially in Texas.
Any information appreciated.

From reading deeper than the 30 seconds on the evening news, most of these people are seeking asylum, which is a legal process. The numbers are just overwhelming the systems in place to process the people. There are still people slipping in illegally, but those are not the huge numbers being thrown about. And yes, they prefer to keep a very low profile. Asylum starts some legal process that give the applicant certain protections. Illegal entry just gets one jailed a transported back across the border.

I don't get to meet very many that work/live on the border but any that I have met all seem to say the border communities get along very well and the people depend on each other on both sides.

[CAG]

Your are not seeing the correct news and look at "got away" figures. Those are the ones not seek asylum but rather flooding this country with undocumented. Just a quick check showed 600,000 illegals that "got away" and are somewhere wandering in our country for 2022.


Yuma is flooded with these people, cannot keep up and has a deficit of 2 million at their hospital for treating illegals, and asylum seekers that have no money.



You are not getting the true picture. Look closer.

[JerryJ]

Thanks for the info, I'm more comfortable now.

[pconroy]

Originally Posted by JerryJ

Thanks for the info, I'm more comfortable now.

You're going to have a blast! Our first RV overnight ever was in a small NM campground.

My wife and our (then) 3 small kids had decided to take a chance on an RV. A family friend was selling theirs and we drove to Albuquerque to buy it. We left too late, it started snowing...

We took a chance and pulled into a state campground in NM. Cold but the kids had a total blast.

What a wonderful night that was.

NM state campgrounds are gorgeous.

[Forelyndogs]

Have lived in AZ (PHX & Kingman) since 1967, probably made our first trip to a campground in 68 or 69. Can I guarantee you'll never encounter a dangerous situation? No. But we have never encountered one in a commercial, state park, NPS, BLM or other type of campground. Have family in NM and camped there also, never had a problem. As always, the ultimate responsibility is yours to be careful, but no need to go overboard.

[kblast523]

We have rved all across southern NM and AZ and the only "danger" I ever encountered was in central NM near Monticello (bears), and Cimarron Canyon (spoiled brat kids) (Tolby) in northern NM. My personal favorite is Ft. Wilcox along I-10. El Paso KOA was rather spartan but it's been a couple of years.

[Gchan]

Originally Posted by JerryJ

Thinking about a trip to southern Arizona and New Mexico and wondering if folks staying in commercial campgrounds in the area have experienced any trouble from migrants. News is full of stories about large numbers of migrants crossing the border causing problems, especially in Texas.
Any information appreciated.

If you are on Facebook sign in to the group ( where’d you stay ) and there are hundreds of places people go and stay! At the group search type in the state you are going to and it will show those places in it.
We are heading to that area in a few more weeks and if you go to Facebook you will see where I asked the same question and received reply’s that were all positive. Happy RV ing

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

In SE desert, a dozen miles north of Mexico, we were warned of javelinas. A with bears and other wild animals, knowledge, caution, and awareness will keep you safe. I'm guessing people here illegally aren't going to look for additional trouble.