U.S. Issues a Do Not Travel Warning for Parts of Mexico

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico are warning U.S. citizens to avoid travel to certain parts of Mexico, partly due to a rise in violent crime along the U.S. border.

The embassy is advising Americans to avoid travel to six Mexican states—Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas—because of crime and kidnapping. It is also advising them to reconsider travel to seven more, including Baja California, Chihuahua and Sonora, due to the same concerns.

Tamaulipas, Baja California and Sonora are all along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tamaulipas includes Reynosa, a border region that the State Department says is known for organized crime activity, including gun battles, carjackings and kidnappings.

The warnings for Mexico’s most visited areas, including Campeche—which contains Mexico City—and Yucatán—which includes Cancún and Tulum—have not been upgraded and remain at the lowest level: “Exercise Normal Precautions.”

As with all foreign destinations, the U.S. State Department has guidelines in place for travelers. These include using toll roads when possible and avoiding driving at night, enrolling in the U.S. State Department’s STEP program, monitoring local media for updates, and remaining aware of surroundings.

“Violent crime—such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery—is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities,” the advisory reads.