U.S. State Department Released Travel Warning for Mexico's Tijuana, Baja

The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Tijuana and Baja in Mexico due to concerns over crime and kidnappings.

The State Department's travel warning stated that travelers should "remain on highways and avoid remote locations" due to the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana, as reported by Fox 5 San Diego News.

The travel advisory also noted that U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnappings in the area.

Tijuana, on the other hand, has remained optimistic that the warning would not keep tourists away.

Jorge Macías Jiménez, president of Tijuana's Chamber of Commerce, said that the warning is mostly for areas where tourists would not go in the first place, adding that it will not harm tourism or the country's commercial sector.

Macías Jiménez added that if people came to visit during the pandemic, he does not think it will matter.

However, he advised people to use caution as there are areas where criminal disputes sometimes result in injuries or even death of bystanders.

U.S. State Department Travel Advisory

State Department noted on its website that the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to many areas of Mexico.

In addition, travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is either not allowed or restricted.

The agency added that U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles such as Uber and regulated taxi stands.

U.S. government employees were also advised to avoid traveling alone, particularly in remote areas.

The U.S. State Department has labeled certain areas as "Do Not Travel" due to crime and kidnapping. These areas include Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas.

However, if one decides to travel to Mexico, they are advised to use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone at night.

Mexico Violence

The Council on Foreign Relations estimated that there have been 150,000 deaths since 2006 due to organized criminal violence, with the country having more than 200 drug trafficking cells.

Mexico law enforcement and military have struggled to stop crime-related violence.

The number of drug-related homicides in Mexico in 2018 increased to 33,341, which is a 15 percent jump from the previous year.

Mexican cartels also killed at least 130 candidates and politicians in the days leading to the country's 2018 presidential elections.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador proposed several strategies to fight crime-related violence during his campaign trail.

In December 2018, after winning the election, Lopez Obrador announced the establishment of a new National Guard, which is hybrid civilian police and military force, to fight cartels.

In 2006, the Mexican government had officially declared war on criminal organizations. It was during former President Felipe Calderon's administration. He launched the effort using military force to fight off cartels.

It was later on revised by former President Enrique Peña Nieto in 2012. He shifted efforts away from violent changes. Instead, he improved law enforcement capacity and supported public safety

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Mexico travel warning for five states - from CBS 8 San Diego