What parts of Mexico the US government recommends not to visit due to the risk of crime and kidnapping?
Travel advice to Mexico has been updated over an increase in violent crime levels in multiple Mexican states. Only two states are said to be “normal”.
After a recent review into travel for US citizens to Mexico, the State Department has issued sweeping changes to its advice. Now, nearly all travel to Mexico is not recommended.
The summary described violent crime as “widespread and common” as well as explaining the limited support the US state can offer. US government employees are prohibited from visiting many areas and emergency services are only available in cities.
Here are the official warnings:
Do Not Travel To:
- Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Guerrero state due to crime.
- Michoacan state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Sinaloa state due to crime and kidnapping
- Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Reconsider Travel To:
- Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Durango state due to crime.
- Guanajuato state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Morelos state due to crime.
- Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping.
Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:
- Aguascalientes state due to crime.
- Baja California Sur state due to crime.
- Chiapas state due to crime.
- Coahuila state due to crime.
- Hidalgo state due to crime.
- Mexico City due to crime.
- Mexico State due to crime.
- Nayarit state due to crime.
- Nuevo Leon state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Oaxaca state due to crime.
- Puebla state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Queretaro state due to crime.
- Quintana Roo state due to crime and kidnapping.
- San Luis Potosi state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Tabasco state due to crime.
- Tlaxcala state due to crime.
- Veracruz state due to crime.
Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:
What has made Mexico so dangerous?
Thousands of troops have been deployed in Mexican states to combat a rise in gang violence. Last Friday, 30 vehicles were abandoned and burned blocking a highway in Baja California state. In Tijuana, known for its links with drug rings and organised crime, a gangland power struggle meant citizens stayed indoors last weekend and the mayor was forced to plead with gangs to stop the violence.
“Today we are saying to the organized crime groups that are committing these crimes, that Tijuana is going to remain open and take care of its citizens,” Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero said in a video.
In response, the Mexican federal government has deployed thousands more police as well as army units to the state. As evidenced by the updated travel risks, this problem is not confined to Baja California.