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Reporters watch for the arrival of El Mencho’s physique in Jalisco
Reporters wait exterior Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office for the arrival of the physique of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, generally known as “El Mencho.”
Diana Garcia
- Safety considerations for journey to Mexico have elevated following violence associated to a cartel chief’s loss of life.
- The U.S. State Department has issued numerous journey advisory ranges for various Mexican states.
- Six Mexican states are beneath a Level 4 advisory, that means don’t journey.
Safety considerations about touring to Mexico are mounting simply because the spring break journey season approaches.
Violence that erupted after the loss of life of cartel chief Nemesio Oseguera, generally known as “El Mencho,” raised considerations in regards to the dangers of future journey to Mexico, evident within the safety alerts from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, which not solely included Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara within the state of Jalisco the place “El Mencho” was killed, but in addition standard vacationer locations throughout Mexico akin to Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel and Tijuana.
The U.S. Embassy introduced on Feb. 25 that it lifted all travel restrictions to Mexico associated to the violence. Flights resumed in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Since Feb. 25, no flights to or from Mexico have been canceled out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
While the up to date steerage suggests issues are returning to regular, some travel and security experts assume Mexico is a extra risky place to journey to following the “El Mencho” killing.
Is it secure to journey to Mexico proper now?
Generally, the reply depends upon what a part of Mexico you propose to go to.
Each state in Mexico has its personal advisory stage from the U.S. Department of State, from lowest threat to highest threat. The State Department additionally has a nationwide journey advisory for Mexico, launched in August 2025; it stays set at Level 2, that means train elevated warning, due to the dangers of terrorism, crime and kidnapping.
Level 4 areas, which suggests “do not travel,” symbolize the best threat of life-threatening hazard and little to no skill for the U.S. authorities to help in an emergency. Most locations that the State Department lists at Level 4 are locations affected by conflict and unrest.
Six Mexican states are listed at Level 4: Zacatecas, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas. Travel to those states is dangerous due to the presence of cartels, gangs and arranged crime, in keeping with the State Department.
In 2025, the U.S. Embassy issued safety alerts for Tamaulipas due to “increasingly frequent” shootouts and the presence of improvised explosive gadgets (IEDs) in and round grime roads and secondary roads. The 2023 kidnapping of 4 Americans in Matamoros, two of whom had been killed, additionally known as consideration to the dangers of journey to Tamaulipas.
Several journey and safety consultants who spoke with USA TODAY following the violence in Mexico, together with Mike Ballard, director of intelligence at safety agency Global Guardian, stated vacationers ought to contemplate reconsidering imminent journey to Mexico given the uncertainty of the state of affairs.
“It could get worse, it could get better,” Ballard stated.
Travel business professional Steve Glenn, chairman of the Nebraska-based company journey firm Executive Travel, inspired vacationers with plans to journey to Mexico to postpone or redirect their travels.
“Even well-secured resort destinations can be impacted by sudden transportation disruptions and regional unrest,” Glenn stated. “Safety conditions can shift quickly with little warning.”
The State Department has not up to date its nationwide or state-level Mexico advisories within the days following the “El Mencho” killing and associated violence.
What is the most secure a part of Mexico for vacationers?
The states of Campeche and Yucatan, the latter together with the famed archaeological website Chichén Itzá, are the one locations in Mexico on the lowest attainable advisory from the State Department.
Both have a Level 1 advisory, which suggests vacationers ought to train regular precautions. While these are the least dangerous locations to journey to, vacationers should nonetheless bear in mind that there’s some threat in any worldwide journey.
Campeche and Yucatan are near the state of Quintana Roo, which incorporates Cancun, Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. The State Department classifies Quintana Roo as a Level 2, which suggests vacationers ought to train elevated warning.
Is it secure to go to Puerto Peñasco proper now?
Despite some consultants’ warnings about journey to Mexico, one a part of the nation that is standard with Arizonans continues to take pleasure in a popularity for security.
Puerto Peñasco, also referred to as Rocky Point, is a well-liked journey spot for Arizonans because the closest seaside to metro Phoenix. It’s positioned about 213 miles away, nearer than Los Angeles or San Diego.
Travelers and enterprise house owners in Puerto Peñasco stated they felt secure there on the day of and days after the loss of life of “El Mencho.”
“If you didn’t watch the news, you’d have no idea,” stated Keith Allen, director of gross sales with Encantame Resorts. “Everyone’s having a good time.”
Despite a vote of confidence from individuals who’ve visited or dwell in Puerto Peñasco, vacationers planning journeys there ought to be conscious that the state of Sonora is beneath a Level 3 advisory by the State Department due to the dangers of violent crime and kidnapping. Travelers are suggested to solely journey throughout daylight by way of Federal Highway 8 by way of the Lukeville Port of Entry to get there.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s lined journey and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s client journey reporter goals to assist readers navigate the stresses of touring and get the very best worth for his or her cash on their holidays. He will be reached at [email protected].
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