The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for all American citizens traveling in and through Mexico. They are asking Americans to be vigilant of their surroundings because of the increasing violence of drug related gangs.
The original travel warning issued in September of 2010 has been updated to include Mexican states that are considered high risk security situations. While the travel restriction is directed specifically at government employees, U.S. citizens are being advised to observe the same precautions.
The State Department is asking U.S. citizens to refrain from non-essential travel in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Michoacán as well as parts of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Durango, Sinaloa, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, and Jalisco.
The states along the U.S.-Mexico boarder, including Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California are of special concern because of the high drug-related violence in these areas. The report states that one third of U.S. citizens killed in Mexico in 2010 occurred in this region.
The advisory recommends extreme caution, citing that travel should be done only during daylight hours. The State Department recommends American citizens avoid unnecessary travel on desolate roads and visit legitimate businesses and touristing areas only during daylight hours.
The report states that resort areas and tourist destinations do not generally see the high levels of drug trafficking and violence that other parts of Mexico see and that the Mexican authorities make every effort to ensure the safety of American citizens traveling in these areas. However, caution is highly advised.
Have A Question? Ask Jessica!
-
Jessica: Hi, I'm Jessica, the Consumer Press AI, can I help you with a consumer question?
