U.S. Warns Against Travel to 30 Mexican States Over Safety Risks

Mexico City — The U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory for Mexico on Tuesday, issuing a Level 2 warning due to risks of "terrorism, crime, and kidnapping." The new advisory covers 30 Mexican states, while only two states—Campeche and Yucatán—were designated Level 1, advising travelers to exercise "normal precautions" without specific restrictions for U.S. citizens or government employees.

Advisory Details

The warning, published on August 12, states: "Numerous violent crimes are committed in Mexico, including homicides, kidnappings, vehicle thefts, and robberies. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activities in Mexico."

The Department of State further advises U.S. citizens to comply with any roadside checkpoints they encounter, as failure to do so could result in "injury or even death."

State-by-State Risk Levels

The U.S. travel advisory system includes four escalating levels based on regional crime risks.

Level 4 (Do Not Travel)

• Colima: Issued due to criminal violence, including homicides and injuries to bystanders during clashes. Most killings target members of criminal groups. Government employees are permitted only in tourist zones.
• Guerrero: Alert for "terrorism and crime," citing organized crime checkpoints that endanger travelers. Tourist areas are off-limits.
• Michoacán: Warns of "widespread violence." Travel is restricted to specific zones.
• Sinaloa: Violence linked to cartel factions, particularly clashes between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. Government employees may travel only to designated areas.
• Tamaulipas: Organized crime activity along the border and in Ciudad Victoria, including shootings, murders, armed robberies, carjackings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault. Attacks on public and private buses have been reported.
• Zacatecas: High risk of violence and extortion.

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)

• Baja California: Criminal groups vie for control of border areas, with clashes endangering bystanders.
• Chiapas: Risk of violence.
• Chihuahua: Territorial disputes between criminal groups have led to violence in restaurants and shopping centers.
• Coahuila: Criminal group violence.
• Guanajuato: Violence in southern and central regions, often tied to fuel theft. The south records the highest murder rates.
• Jalisco: Shootouts between criminal groups result in injuries and deaths.
• Morelos: Criminal group violence.
• Sonora: Widespread violence.

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)

The advisory notes risks from cartels, criminal organizations, and "terrorist" groups, with some states having higher concentrations of violent incidents.

• Aguascalientes
• Baja California Sur
• Durango
• Hidalgo
• Mexico City
• State of Mexico
• Nayarit
• Nuevo León
• Oaxaca
• Puebla
• Querétaro
• Quintana Roo
• San Luis Potosí
• Tabasco
• Tlaxcala
• Veracruz

Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)

No specific restrictions apply, but the potential for criminal violence remains.

• Campeche
• Yucatán

The advisory follows recent reports of escalating violence in multiple Mexican states.