Which city, plagued by widespread gang violence, lies directly across the Rio Grande from El Paso?

Ciudad Juárez is the correct answer as it is the city that directly borders the Rio Grande River, opposite El Paso, Texas. This geographical positioning is significant due to the border that separates the two cities and the social and economic interactions that occur as a result. Ciudad Juárez has been notably affected by gang violence and drug trafficking, which has contributed to a complicated and often dangerous urban environment. This violence often spills over into discussions about border security and immigration due to the close proximity of the two cities.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexicali, and Veracruz are located in different regions of Mexico and do not share a direct geographical relationship with El Paso across the Rio Grande. Puerto Vallarta is situated on the Pacific coast, Mexicali is located in the northeast near the border with California but hundreds of miles away from El Paso, and Veracruz is on the Gulf Coast. Their distances from El Paso and the absence of a direct border crossing eliminate them as contenders for this question. Thus, Ciudad Juárez stands out both geographically and contextually as the city relating to the issues posed in the question.