U.S. updates safety info for Mexico travel

State Department alerts can help travelers choose safe destinations

One of the many perks of living in Yuma is our proximity to Mexico.

Many Yumans travel across the border for lunch in Algodones or San Luis Rio Colorado, or to play on the beach in El Golfo. Some even travel farther south into Mexico, headed to the resort areas such as Cancun.

The U.S. State Department recently issued a travel advisory for several Mexican states, warning Americans not to visit Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, due to crime in those areas. Those states have been listed as “Level 4: Do Not Travel” on the State Department’s website.

The state of Sonora, which is home to San Luis Rio Colorado, El Golfo and Puerto Penasco, are listed as “Level 3: Reconsider Travel.” The State Department notice says, “Reconsider travel due to crime. Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. However, northern Sonora experiences much lower levels of crime than cities closer to Sinaloa and other parts of Mexico.”That last part is critical, since Yuma County is right next door to northern Sonora.

The report also notes that U.S. government employees can travel to San Luis Rio Colorado. However, said employees must travel during daylight hours only, and may not travel beyond city limits.

The state of Baja California, home to Los Algodones, is at a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” warning. The report notes that there are no restrictions in place for government employees in tourist areas such as Ensenada, Rosarito and Tijuana.

Any time one travels in another country, one has to exercise some degree of caution. And that commonsense policy extends to areas across the border from Yuma into Mexico. To many Yumans, these places feel like home. But there is something to be said for heeding the warnings, and being extra vigilant when crossing the border.

However, such travel warnings are bad news for Mexico’s tourism industry. Such warnings have the potential to lead people to choose to travel elsewhere instead of Mexico. The Mexican government has the ability to take control, should it choose to, and increase efforts to eradicate crime. But that effort isn’t going to happen overnight. It would take a longterm coordinated effort to root out corruption and violence.

In the meantime, if you are planning to travel in Mexico, check out the U.S. State Department’s recommendations and warnings for travelers, and be alert.