US travelers may want to reconsider their Mexico travel plans with the US State Department issuing an updated travel advisory for travelers, citing an “increased risk of crime and kidnapping.”
The State Department noted that violent crime, such as murder, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery, is “widespread and common” in Mexico.
Gunfire erupted on a beach in Mexico’s Caribbean coast resort of Cancun on Tuesday, sending tourists scrambling for cover. (grand)
The updated travel advisory includes new information about the states of Coahuila, Mexico, Nayarit, and Zacatecas.
Travelers should “exercise increased caution when traveling to Coahuila, Mexico and Nayarit” and should not travel to “Zacatecas.”
There is also updated information on “risk of kidnapping” for the states of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Sonora, Nuevo León, Puebla, Quintana Roo and San Luis Potosí.
Hundreds of Mexican National Guard troops sent to Tijuana to tackle cartel-fueled violence
According to the advisory, “U.S. citizens are advised to comply with travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.” Some restrictions include not hailing taxis from the street, but instead using a ride-share service like Uber or a regulated taxi stand, and not traveling alone to remote locations.
The advisory also noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that Mexico has a high level of Covid-19 and encouraged visitors to check the latest Travel Health Information.
Last week, the State Department issued a shelter-in-place order warning to U.S. citizens with reports of “numerous vehicle fires, roadblocks, and heavy police activity” in Tijuana and the surrounding area.
Armed members of the National Guard walk past the site of a burned mass transit vehicle after it was set on fire by unidentified persons in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico on August 12, 2022. (Getty Images via GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP)
Mexican President Lopez Obrador has appealed for calm amid cartel violence, asking US government staff to shelter in place.
About 350 National Guard troops were sent to assist the thousands of federal troops already in the state of Baja California, Reforma reported.
While no injuries were reported in Tijuana, the crime snarled traffic throughout the city and temporarily blocked access to the US border crossing.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Here is a list of Mexican states where travel is not advised at this time:
Do not travel to:
- State of Kolyma due to crime and kidnapping.
- Due to the Guerrero state crime.
- State of Michoacán due to crime and kidnapping.
- Sinaloa State due to crime and kidnapping
- The state of Tamaulipas due to crime and kidnapping.
- Because of the Xactex state crime and kidnapping.
Revisit the trip:
- Crime and kidnapping in the state of Baja California.
- State of Chihuahua due to crime and kidnapping.
- Durango State by offense.
- Guanajuato state by crime and kidnapping.
- Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
- State of Morelos due to crime.
- Sinora state due to crime and kidnapping.
Police officers arrest a resident for an alleged robbery in Tijuana, Mexico, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (Jonathan Alperi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Take extra precautions when travelling:
- State of Aguascalientes due to crime.
- State of Baja California Sur due to crime.
- State of Chiapas due to crime.
- State of Coahuila due to crime.
- Hidalgo state due to crime.
- Mexico City due to crime.
- State of Mexico due to crime.
- State directed by reason of crime.
- The state of Nuevo Leon due to crime and kidnapping.
- State of Oaxaca due to crime.
- State of Puebla due to crime and kidnapping.
- State of Queretaro due to crime.
- Quintana Roo State due to crime and kidnapping.
- State of San Luis Potosí due to crime and kidnapping.
- Tabasco state due to crime.
- Mint state due to crime.
- State of Veracruz due to crime.
