The U.S. Department of State has updated its website warning U.S. citizens about the security situation in Mexico.
The warning issued Tuesday, supersedes the travel warning for Mexico issued in April 2011. It notes that "millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business ... there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes."
Travelers are urged to be alert and cautious especially when crossing the northern border region where gun battles have occurred in broad daylight and where gangs use stolen cars and trucks to make roadblocks to prevent police response to criminal activity.
The warning notes that 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011.
The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
