US government issues new travel alert for Mexico

• New travel alert for Mexico.
• The US ambassador to Mexico broke the news.
• The alert says which Mexican states to avoid.

The US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, announced that due to «increased criminal activity» another state in in Mexico has been placed on the State Department’s «do not travel» list. In total, six states in Mexico are under this travel alert.

“The states in which security situations arise highlight the importance of the Bicentennial Framework between Mexico and the United States. Within this framework, both countries committed to improving security and better protecting our people,” said Ambassador Ken Salazar in a release.

The United States issues a travel alert for six states in Mexico

«Due to increased criminal activity, Zacatecas remains, along with five other states on the State Department’s Travel Alert, on the ‘do not travel’ list,» the ambassador announced in a brief message on Twitter. The alert comes amid the presentation of the annual update of the Mexico Travel Alert.

“Without security there is no prosperity. It is important to reaffirm our commitment to the security of citizens, and provide the Mexican security and justice institutions with the necessary resources and training, in addition to deepening our cooperation,» Salazar added in the statement reviewed by MundoNOW.

Mexican states on the US ‘do not travel’ list

Travel alerts remain in force for Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and now Zacatecas. “The United States will continue to work with our partners, friends, and neighbors as we build a peaceful future together,” the ambassador assured.

“We promised to strengthen our cooperation to combat the transnational criminal organizations that foment violence in our two countries. We reaffirm the robust operational efforts among law enforcement agencies to address these overriding security challenges,” he added.

The US congratulates three Mexican states for improving their level of travel alert

On the other hand, Ken Salazar also congratulated three states in Mexico for improving their level of alert within the framework of the annual comprehensive review of crime and security in the country. “I congratulate the governments of Nayarit, the State of Mexico and Coahuila for focusing on protecting the safety of residents and visitors,” said Salazar.

“For the United States State Department there is no higher priority than the security of citizens abroad and I am pleased to see progress in these states to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors,” he added in a brief message on Twitter.

The US suggests reconsidering travel to other Mexican states

The travel alert also asks US citizens to reconsider travel to various states in Mexico for crime and kidnapping. These places are: Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora.

«Violent crimes, such as homicides, kidnappings, carjackings and robberies, are widespread and common in Mexico,» says the travel alert published in the Official site of the State Department. “The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in many areas of Mexico.”