MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas — A video was captured as four Americans were involved in a kidnapping that turned deadly during a cartel shootout near the northern Mexico border city of Matamoros. Now, travel warnings are in the spotlight.
A "Level 4-Do Not Travel" warning, the highest travel warning given by the State Department, is in effect for Tamaulipas state, where Matamoros is located. U.S. government employees have been instructed to avoid the area until further notice. Baja California is at a "Level 3- Reconsider Travel To” warning due to crime and kidnapping.
Deputy Director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C said, "The U.S. Department of State has placed a warning on five other Mexican states, including Baja California, as a no travel warning due to the large amounts of crime and kidnapping."
Dr. Ev Meade, a former UCSD and USD professor who specializes in studies of violence, migration, and peace and the Director of the Pacific Process Project, says while this is a terrifying circumstance, it shouldn’t stop people from traveling to Mexico.
"It's very important to remember this is a rare event. It rarely happens. This will open a broader conversation about what's going on in Mexico. I think its perfectly safe to travel to Mexico, but of course, pay attention to warnings," said Dr. Meade.
However, former FBI Hostage Rescue team member and Senior Risk Advisor for Global Guardian, Rob D’amico, advises not to travel to Mexico, but he says if you are willing to take that risk, be cautious.
"Make sure to have situational awareness. Understand your surroundings, don’t have your head down in your phone, and read warnings," said D'Amico.
Meanwhile, the Biden Administration closely follows the situation and coordinates with Mexican authorities.
"They need to bring the individuals that caused this to justice which is hard in Mexico because of the deep corruption of public officials," said Abed.
Here is a full list of travel warnings in Mexico:
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.
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.
Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:
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