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Paul Ratje/Agence France-Presse/AFP by way of Get
The Texas Division of Public Security has urged residents to keep away from spring break journey to Mexico, warning that drug cartel violence and different crime pose a major security risk.
“Now we have an obligation to tell the general public about security, journey dangers and threats,” mentioned DPS Director Steven McCraw in a press release on Friday. “Primarily based on the risky nature of cartel exercise and the violence we’re seeing there; we’re urging people to keep away from journey to Mexico at the moment.”
U.S. residents who resolve to journey to Mexico are inspired to register with an embassy or consulate earlier than they go, the Texas company mentioned.
The advisory follows the kidnapping of 4 Individuals earlier this month within the Mexican metropolis of Matamoros. The Individuals have been reportedly visiting for medical tourism after they have been caught within the crossfire between rival cartel teams and kidnapped. Two of them have been returned to the U.S., and two have been discovered lifeless. A Mexican bystander was additionally killed.
One of many cartel teams in Matamoros apologized for the killings and handed over the boys they are saying are accountable to police.
Tamaulipas, the state the place Matamoros is positioned, is taken into account probably the most violent locations in Mexico.
The State Division’s most up-to-date journey advisory, from October 2022, lists Tamaulipas as one in all six Mexican states beneath a “Stage 4: Do Not Journey” advisory for crime and kidnapping. There are seven extra beneath “Stage Three: Rethink Journey.”
Greater than 500 Individuals — and tens of hundreds of Mexicans — stay lacking in Mexico.
Nonetheless, in style vacationer locations like Cancún, Cabo San Lucas and Mexico Metropolis have a a lot decrease advisory of “Stage 2: Train Elevated Warning.” For comparability, the State Division has issued that advisory stage for a lot of Western Europe, together with France and the UK.
“DPS understands many individuals do journey to Mexico with out incident, however the critical dangers can’t be ignored,” the Texas DPS assertion mentioned. The division urged vacationers to “rigorously analysis any deliberate journeys” and take into account suspending or canceling upcoming journeys to Mexico.
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