State Department warns travelers of crime and kidnapping in Mexico

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Travelers from the U.S. may want to reconsider their Mexico travel plans with the U.S. State Department issuing an updated Travel Advisory for travelers, citing an "increased risk of crime and kidnapping."

The State Department noted that violent crime, such as homicide, kidnappings, carjacking, and robbery, is "widespread and common" in Mexico.

Gunfire broke out on a beach in Mexico’s Caribbean coast resort of Cancun Tuesday, sending tourists scrambling for cover. (Grand )

The updated Travel Advisory includes new information on the Coahuila, Mexico, Nayarit, and Zacatecas states. 

Travelers should "exercise increased caution when traveling to" Coahuila, Mexico and Nayarit and "not travel to" Zacatecas. 

There is also updated information on the "kidnapping risk" for the states of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Sonora, Nuevo León, Puebla, Quintana Roo and San Luis Potosi.

HUNDREDS OF MEXICAN NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS SENT TO TIJUANA OVER CARTEL-FUELED VIOLENCE

According to the advisory, "U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel." Some restrictions include not hailing taxis from the street but rather using a ride-share service like Uber or regulated taxi stands, and to not travel alone to remote locations.

The advisory also noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined Mexico has a high level of COVID-19 and encouraged visitors to see the latest Travel Health Information.

Last week, the State Department issued a shelter-in-place alert to U.S. citizens with reports of "multiple vehicle fires, roadblocks, and heavy police activity" in Tijuana and the surrounding area. 

Armed members of the National Guard drive past the site of a burnt collective transport vehicle after it was set on fire by unidentified individuals in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on August 12, 2022. (GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images)

MEXICO PRESIDENT LOPEZ OBRADOR URGES CALM AMID CARTEL VIOLENCE, US GOVERNMENT STAFF TOLD TO SHELTER IN PLACE

Approximately 350 National Guard troops were flown in to support the thousands of federal troops already in the state of Baja California, Reforma reported. 

While there were no reported injuries in Tijuana, the crime tangled up traffic throughout the city and temporarily blocked access to the U.S. border crossing.

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Here is a list of Mexican states where travel is not advised at this time:

Do Not Travel To:

• Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Guerrero state due to crime.
• Michoacan state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Sinaloa state due to crime and kidnapping
• Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.

Reconsider Travel To:

• Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Durango state due to crime.
• Guanajuato state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Morelos state due to crime.
• Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping.

Police officers arrest a resident for alleged robbery in Tijuana, Mexico, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.  (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:

• Aguascalientes state due to crime.
• Baja California Sur state due to crime.
• Chiapas state due to crime.
• Coahuila state due to crime.
• Hidalgo state due to crime.
• Mexico City due to crime.
• Mexico State due to crime.
• Nayarit state due to crime.
• Nuevo Leon state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Oaxaca state due to crime.
• Puebla state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Queretaro state due to crime.
• Quintana Roo state due to crime and kidnapping.
• San Luis Potosi state due to crime and kidnapping.
• Tabasco state due to crime.
• Tlaxcala state due to crime.
• Veracruz state due to crime.