In 30 states of Mexico, high crime rate

The U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisory for Mexico, warning of elevated levels of violence and crime in 30 of the country's 32 states.

According to the notice published on its official website, only the states of Yucatán and Campeche were excluded from any type of warning.

The alert classifies Mexican states into a four-level risk system: Level 4 (Do not travel), Level 3 (Reconsider travel), Level 2 (Exercise increased caution), and Level 1 (Normal precautions).

"Numerous violent crimes, including homicides, kidnappings, carjackings, and robberies, are occurring in Mexico. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activities in Mexico," the alert reads.

At Level 4, the highest risk, are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, states where high levels of armed violence, the presence of criminal groups, and the risk of kidnapping have been reported. The U.S. government advises its citizens against any type of travel to these states.

Regarding Level 3, where U.S. citizens are advised to reconsider their travel plans, the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora were included due to persistent criminal activity and limited consular response capacity in some regions.

Meanwhile, Level 2 includes states where US travelers are urged to exercise increased caution. These include Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Aguascalientes, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Nuevo León, and others, for a total of 17 states. In these areas, while violence is not widespread, there are pockets of insecurity that could affect tourists.

The only states classified under Level 1, which implies normal precautions, were Campeche and Yucatán, which have maintained low crime rates and an environment considered safe for international visitors.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico reiterated that there are restrictions on the movement of diplomatic personnel in several regions of the country and recommended that its citizens avoid traveling by road at night, as well as not take taxis from the street or travel alone in rural areas.