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.