Spring breakers are once again being urged to avoid traveling to Mexico this year.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging people to not go to Mexico because of continues violence in the country.
"The Mexican government has made great strides battling the cartels, and we commend their continued commitment to making Mexico a safer place to live and visit," said DPS Director Steven C. McCraw. "However, drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat, even in some resort areas."
According to the U.S. Department of State, there were nearly 13,000 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011. Also, the number of U.S. Citizens reported as murdered dramatically increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.
According to published information from the U.S. Department of State:
· U.S. citizens have fallen victim to transnational criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery.
· Rape and sexual assault continue to be serious problems in resort areas.
· Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Tijuana can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals.
· Crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and can occur anywhere.
· The State Department now urges U.S. travelers to defer non-essential travel to all or parts of 14 Mexican states, four more than 2011.
"The situation in Mexico today is significantly different than it was just a decade ago," said McCraw. "Many crimes against Americans in Mexico go unpunished, and we have a responsibility to inform the public about safety and travel risks and threats. Based on the unpredictable nature of cartel violence and other criminal elements, we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time."
