Earlier this month, the United States Department of State issued an ominous-sounding travel advisory for the country of Mexico – the most common international tourist destination for Americans. Now, one expert is weighing in on the true dangers of traveling south of the border.
The travel advisory, which was officially issued by the State Department on Aug. 12, warns of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping in Mexico, urging travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting Mexico.
Though the language of the travel advisory sounds undeniably concerning, that doesn’t mean you need to cancel your travel plans just yet.
United States Travel Advisories
The United States Department of State has a rather extensive database of travel advisories giving travelers all the information they need to stay safe while abroad.
These travel advisories vary in severity, ranging from Level 1 to Level 4, with Level 4 being the most severe. A Level 1 advisory reminds travelers to simply “exercise normal precautions,” while a Level 2 advisory warns travelers to “exercise increased caution.”
A Level 3 travel advisory warns travelers to “reconsider travel” to that destination, while a Level 4 travel advisory, meanwhile, warns travelers simply “do not travel” to that destination.
The United States currently has active Level 4 travel advisories for 21 different countries across the United States.
Level 2 Travel Advisory Issued for Mexico
While “terrorism, crime, and kidnapping” might sound quite severe, the travel advisory recently issued for Mexico was just a Level 2 travel advisory, warning prospective travelers simply to “exercise increased caution.”
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still real risks to traveling to Mexico.
“Many violent crimes take place in Mexico. They include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery,” the State Department wrote in the travel advisory. “There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico.”
It’s also worth noting that while the country itself has been issued a Level 2 travel advisory, there are portions of the country that have been issued more severe travel advisories.
The U.S. Department of State has issued Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, as well as Level 3 travel advisories for the states of Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora.
Expert Weighs In
During a recent interview with USA Today, security expert Mike Ballard, who is the director of intelligence at international security firm Global Guardian, explained that despite the newly updated travel advisory, the risks of traveling to Mexico are about the same as they’ve been, and the vast majority of Americans face no issues while traveling abroad.
“Ninety-nine percent of (our clients’) visits have no issue, and it’s probably a similar percentage for your average American that’s visiting Mexico,” Ballard told USA Today. “But, you know, I would just say you want to maintain situational awareness.”
Ballard believes that the new travel advisory is due to the fact that the U.S. government recently designated of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations rather than just simple criminals. However, Ballard doesn’t think this changes much for travelers, though it does change things for those involved in the cartels.
“The penalties obviously are going to be quite a bit stiffer, and it’s a bigger deal to be involved and to be found guilty of aiding and abetting a terrorist organization than a drug trafficking or arms trafficking organization,” he said. “So, I think this move was really to maintain consistency. If we’re labeling the leading drug cartels in Mexico as terrorist organizations, then we probably should include a risk and an advisory about terrorist groups and terrorism in Mexico.”
Is it Safe to Travel to Mexico?
While all international travel carries some level of inherent risk, Ballard believes that traveling to Mexico is generally safe – as long as you stick to the tourist locations.
“We’re not really seeing a particular uptick (for violent crimes) in some of the tourist spots,” Ballard said.
From experience, areas like Cancun, Mexico City, or Playa del Carmen generally feel quite safe with a strong and consistent police presence.
If you do choose to travel to Mexico, the State Department has a few tips to follow.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
- Review the Country Security Report for Mexico.
- Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information for Mexico.
- Whether you are a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Traveler’s Checklist.
- We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Above all, be sure to use common sense when you travel and avoid putting yourself in dangerous situations. It’s also worth noting that these travel advisories can change, so make sure to stay up to date on the latest travel information.
