U.S. State Dept. locations Mexico below Level 2 journey advisory; Chicago space teen was shot throughout go to

The U.S. State Department has a brand new warning for anybody planning to go to Mexico within the close to future.

The State Department stated Mexico is below a Level 2 advisory, and folks ought to be cautious of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. This doesn’t imply individuals shouldn’t journey there, however consultants say vacationers ought to do their analysis earlier than going.

Jason Peña’s household has seen the specter of hazard in Mexico firsthand in a tragic means. The 14-year-old Oak Forest boy went right into a coma after a person shot him within the head.

It occurred alongside a freeway whereas Jason was visiting his household in Durango, Mexico in December.

Jason’s mother stated solely 30% of his mind can perform now, even with months of rehab. Authorities stated his dad, his uncle, and a 3rd man died within the capturing after a household celebration.

“In my perspective, on a daily basis, I work with individuals who have fled imminent danger in Mexico,” stated Pastor Julie Contreras, an immigration advocate who works with Jason’s household.

After numerous circumstances she has handled in Mexico, Contreras stated vacationers have restricted authorities help and emergency companies to entry.

“The family had to hire attorneys in Mexico, pay a lot of money to see justice be served,” she stated.

While the State Department issued a Level 2 advisory for the entire nation of Mexico this week, every Mexican state might need its personal dangers.

The states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas are all below a Level 4 warning — that means the State Department advises not visiting them in any respect as a consequence of homicides and shootings.

Several different states — Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora — are below a Level 3 advisory during which it’s suggested to “reconsider travel.”

Mexico City and the State of Mexico, in addition to the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Durango, Hidalgo, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz are below a Level 2 warning, or “exercise increased caution.” Quintana Roo consists of such standard vacationer locations as Cancún and Cozumel.

Only two states — the states of Campeche and Yucatán — are below a Level 1 advisory during which vacationers might train regular precautions.

All this being stated, CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg stated nearly each nation has a journey advisory.

“Level 2 means travel with increased caution, which doesn’t worry me at all,” stated Greenberg.

But he stated individuals ought to nonetheless examine up earlier than going anyplace.

“All it really means is increase situational awareness, which every traveler should have, and it should not stop you from traveling to Mexico — or Cleveland, for that matter,” Greenberg stated.

As for Jason, Contreras stated it’s a miracle he is alive. But she stated nobody’s trip ought to value them their life.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that that mother had to go through several hoops and receive humanitarian assistance from organization to bring her child — children — to safety,” Contreras stated.

Under the advisory, the State Department stated anybody who’s stopped at a street checkpoint whereas touring ought to cooperate with officers. People also needs to keep away from touring at midnight or alone, particularly in distant areas.