While Mexico is a popular destination for travelers from all around the world, the U.S. Department of State has issued its top alert for certain regions, strongly advising citizens against going there.
“Violent crime — such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery — is widespread and common in Mexico,” reads the recently updated travel advisory from the State Department.
Yet the places flagged for presenting the highest risk to travelers are the states of Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas.
The level 4 advisory is reserved for locations where a great likelihood of life-threatening risks exists, per the State Department. This is often coupled with a very limited chance that the U.S. government could provide any assistance in the event of an emergency.
Other locations currently flagged by a level 4 advisory include Ukraine, Venezuela, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, and Haiti.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Haiti is currently being overrun by gang-related crime. Kidnappings are frequent, with one couple from Florida taken in March and only just released recently.
“I would say Mexico is not a safe country right now in my opinion,” Chad Yarbrough told WFAA.
Yarbrough is the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office. He was appointed last month, as The Dallas Express reported.
While violence in Mexico has been on the rise these past few years, many travel experts have continued to tout resorts as being generally safe for tourists.
Yet just this past weekend a gunman allegedly stormed into a resort in Guanajuato and opened fire at guests, killing six adults and a 7-year-old child, per CBS News.
Guanajuato is currently listed at a level 3 alert, per the State Department.
Cartel-related violence has contributed to the ongoing security issues facing Mexico.
The arrests of El Chapo and his sons from the Sinaloa cartel created a power vacuum, with other cartels now scrambling to gain an advantage.
“I think overall there is always going to be a bit of a turf battle with any cartel [whenever] it’s dismantled, and you have subordinates waiting in the wings to take over those roles,” said Eduardo Chaves, per WFAA.
Chaves is the DEA’s special agent in charge of the Dallas field office, which monitors North Texas and Oklahoma.
It is important to know that many popular tourist destinations carry certain risks to travelers, not just in terms of security but also in health. There are ways to minimize risk and stay safe, such as doing your research and staying informed.
In March, the State Department issued a health alert for counterfeit pharmaceuticals available for purchase at pharmacies in Mexico.
As The Dallas Express reported, many of these have allegedly been laced with methamphetamine and fentanyl, which could have disastrous consequences for an unsuspecting consumer.