The public is being warned by the FBI to be vigilant. aware of their surroundings, and use caution when traveling during spring break. If traveling out of the country, the FBI warns of increased dangers of international travel, including crime, theft, fraud, and kidnapping.
As a first step in planning any trip abroad, check the travel advisories for your intended destination. The travel advisory system was designed to give U.S. citizens timely, clear, and reliable information regarding security threats abroad.
The following tips may help you feel more secure while traveling internationally:
- Establish points of contact for your family to contact in the event of an emergency.
- Avoid traveling alone, especially after dark. Be conscious of your surroundings and avoid areas you believe may put your personal safety at risk.
- Use only authorized taxis/shuttles. Passengers have been robbed or kidnapped when using taxis.
- Avoid actions that are illegal, improper, or indiscreet. Avoid offers of sexual companionship; they may lead to a room raid, photography, and blackmail.
- Evade criminals by being aware of your surroundings and alert to the possibility of surveillance. Take mental notes of anyone following you and promptly report it to the appropriate security officials.
- Beware of new acquaintances who probe for information about you or who attempt to get you involved in what could become a compromising situation.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico updated the travel advisory on March 7, 2022:
Country Summary: Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.
Restrictions on U.S. government travel: U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. U.S. government employees may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior parts of Mexico, with the exception of daytime travel within Baja California, between Nogales and Hermosillo on Mexican Federal Highway 15D, and between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on Highway 85D. U.S. government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas.
Read the country information page.
Do Not Travel To:
- Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Guerrero state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Michoacan state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Sinaloa state due to crime and kidnapping
- Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Reconsider Travel To:
- Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Coahuila state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Durango state due to crime.
- Guanajuato state due to crime.
- Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Mexico state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Morelos state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Nayarit state due to crime.
- Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:
- Aguascalientes state due to crime.
- Baja California Sur state due to crime.
- Chiapas state due to crime.
- Hidalgo state due to crime.
- Mexico City due to crime and kidnapping.
- 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.
- San Luis Potosi state due to crime.
- Tabasco state due to crime.
- Tlaxcala state due to crime.
- Veracruz state due to crime.
Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To: