Mexico Travel Advisories issued by the United Kingdom and US Department of State.
August 30th, 2019 – According to local news reporting, officials in both the United States and Mexico are urging Americans not to travel to the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
KGNS-TV, based in Laredo, Texas, said in a news release that ‘the Mexican state of Tamaulipas is currently under a “Do not travel” advisory, citing violent crime by gang activity, including gun battles and blockades by criminal organizations.
This media warning also mentions Mexican Federal and State Security Forces have limited capability to respond to the violence.
Tamaulipas is home to over 3.4 million residents, is known officially as the ‘Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas’ and is located in northeastern Mexico, on the southern Texas border.
Previously, on April 9, 2019, the US Department of State issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory which said ‘Do not travel to Tamaulipasdue to crime and kidnapping.’
‘Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion, and sexual assault, is common. Gang activity, including gun battles and blockades, is widespread.’
‘Armed criminal groups target public and private passenger buses as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers hostage and demanding ransom payments.
U.S. government employees may only travel within a limited radius between the U.S. Consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros and their respective U.S. Ports of Entry. U.S. government employees may not travel between cities in Tamaulipas using interior Mexican highways and they must observe a curfew between midnight and 6:00 a.m. in the cities of Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo.
Separately, UK authorities said on August 27, 2019, ‘there are currently large numbers of migrants moving en masse from Honduras through Guatemala to Mexico and beyond.
And, drug-related violence is a particular problem in the northern states, including Tamaulipas. Armed clashes between security forces and drug groups can occur at any time without warning. You should take extreme care outside tourist areas in all of this Mexican state.
Source: https://www.vaxbeforetravel.com
