Mexico is known for its beautiful tourist attractions and natural places along the territory. Unfortunately, however, it is also known for being one of the most crime-plagued countries in the world.
The U.S. State Department warned American citizens about five states in Mexico that they should avoid visiting due to crime and violence. Overall, Mexico received a level-two warning, which is the second lowest rank advisory, but the U.S. told travelers to be cautious when it came to individual states.
Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero are the five Mexican states that ranked number four, which is the State Department’s highest level of potential danger.
Tamaulipas is the only non-coastal state on the list. It is in Mexico’s northeast corner and borders with Texas. The violence there has been an issue for a long time now. The Gulf and Zetas Cartels have caused a rise in violence in recent months.
Sinaloa may be the most infamous one due to its namesake cartel. The leader of the Sinaloa cartel got captured and extradited to the United States, which caused external pressure on the state, so violence remains high.
Colima is the smallest state in the country. However, it had an increase in homicides over the last two years. The Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels’ fight for trafficking networks is the main reason for violence.
Michoacán was the first state to get aid from federal troops. The 1,335 homicide victims recorded in Michoacán up until November of last year are about equal to the 1,334 seen during that period in 2016.
Guerrero, just like the other states, is a territory divided by drug-trafficking problems. The 2,288 homicide victims in Guerrero from January to November of 2017 was more than the entirety of both 2016 and 2017. The once paradise city of Acapulco is now one of the most violent cities in the world and earned the nickname, “Guerrero’s Iraq.”
Other dangerous states that ranked number three were Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora, and Jalisco. Fortunately, states like Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur ranked number two, calling for Americans to exercise increased caution but not stay away.
This article was inspired by Los Angeles Times // The U.S. tells citizens not to travel to five Mexican states