US State Department updates its travel warning to Mexico

WASHINGTON, DC – The US State Department has updated its travel warning to Mexico due to threats to safety and security. As of August 15 US citizens are warned against travelling to certain areas in Mexico. While the list of places to avoid travel to has increased, all major tourist destinations are still regarded as safe for travel.

The warning acknowledges that each year millions of citizens safely visit Mexico for study, tourism and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border daily. “Nevertheless, US travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter organized criminal groups that engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico,” the warning reports. “The groups themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity.”

US Citizens are encouraged to avoid displaying personal items such as expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, watches or cameras and to keep a low profile. Places to avoid are casinos, sports books or other gambling establishments in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

The following destinations are still considered safe for tourism: Cabo San Lucas and La Paz; Campeche; Chiapas; Guanajuato; Hidalgo; Puerto Vallarta; Guadalajara; Mexico City; Riviera Nayarit; Oaxaca; Puebla, Queretaro; Quintana Roo; Tabasco; Tlaxcala; and Yucatan.

In answer to this heightened security breach, the Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the criminal groups.