Stay Safe Abroad: US Issues Travel Warnings for Mexico

The United States Department of State has issued travel warnings for 30 out of 32 Mexican states due to concerns about violence and insecurity. The only states deemed safe for travel are Campeche and Yucatan.

The US Government advises those traveling to Mexico to use toll roads whenever possible and to avoid driving alone or at night. It notes that in many states, police presence and emergency services are severely limited outside of the state capital or major cities.

The Department of State recently issued a specific alert for Mexico City, following a shooting at Plaza Miyana. The victim was identified as Jesus Perez, the former manager of regional Mexican music singer Gerardo Ortiz. The US embassy advises American citizens to be cautious, avoid the area if possible, maintain a high level of vigilance, and keep a low profile.

The US authorities are urging tourists to reconsider their plans to visit several states, including Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora. In Guanajuato, two car bombs were detonated by organized crime last October. In Chihuahua, the criminal group La Línea burned 14 houses used as fortresses.

Extra precautions are advised due to crime and kidnappings in numerous other states, including Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz.

The US Government is also offering substantial rewards for information leading to the capture of key figures in Mexican organized crime. The Department of State recently increased the reward for information on Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, from 10 to 15 million dollars.