EL PASO, Texas -- In border cities, such as El Paso-Juarez, where families live on both sides of the border, holiday celebrations are often alternated among family members. One holiday is celebrated in Mexico, and the next one is usually celebrated in the U.S.

However, as the death toll in Juarez continues to climb passed 1,000 this year, some families fear the on-going violence and have decided to spend the holidays in El Paso instead.

"I live here in El Paso, and worked in Juarez, but I left my job because of the uncertainty right now. I didn't want to keep risking my life, or putting my family in danger," said Alfonso Benavides, of central El Paso.

Like many El Pasoans who work in Juarez, Benavides spent the last 18 years crossing back and forth almost on a daily basis. Now, he goes once every two months, even though his daughter and grandchildren live in Juarez.

"I try not to go, unless I really need to. I'm scared something might happen. Not because I'm involved in anything, but because it can happen to anyone," said Benavides.

Tuesday morning seven bodies were found dumped near a school soccer field. Juarez officials said the bodies appeared to have been tortured, and a note believed to have come from the drug cartels was found nearby.

"I feel that if you have nothing to do with the cartels, chances are nothing's going to happen to you. It's like driving in the street. You may be driving down and get hit," said Jose Martinez, of west El Paso. Unlike Benavides, Martinez said he goes to Juarez every chance he gets.

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert warning citizens travel to Juarez is extremely risky right now. However, Martinez said it won't keep him from crossing over.

"Keep on doing what you're doing because if you let them (the drug cartels) scare you, they're winning," he said.

Benavides and his family have decided to celebrate this Thanksgiving and Christmas in El Paso, and away from the violence. He's asked his daughter to spend it here as well.

According to an annual report by Customs and Border Protection, officials, 39,641,129 pedestrians crossed at El Paso ports of entry in 2007, compared with 37,200,081 in fiscal year 2008.

Officials wouldn't link the decrease to the on-going violence.