Mexico Travel Advisory: Here's Why the U.S. Embassy Issued a Security Alert for Americans Traveling to Zacatecas

The U.S. Embassy on Tuesday issued a security alert intended for U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico's state of Zacatecas.

According to Mexico News Daily, the new travel restrictions from the agency were made due to cartel turf wars in the area. Under the new restrictions, the U.S. Embassy also said government employees are not allowed to travel to Zacatecas by land, but the agency permits personnel to travel to the state by air.

"Zacatecas state has experienced violent turf battles between cartels. The state's homicide rate in 2021 was more than double the previous year's rate and was the highest in Mexico. U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) have been victims of kidnapping," the U.S. Embassy noted in their statement.

The agency also urged Americans traveling to Zacatecas to be aware of their surroundings and monitor the local media for updates.

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Police Officers Among Victims of Recent Violence in Zacatecas, Mexico

According to a report from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, Zacatecas is Mexico's most violent state regarding homicides per capita, Mexico News Daily reported.

Between 2020 and 2021, homicide in the said state reportedly increased by 143 percent. According to an October security survey, Fresnillo, Zacatecas' second biggest city, was identified as unsafe by 94.3 percent of residents.

Police officers in the state are among the victims of the violence in the state. Vice News reported that police officers went on strike nearly a week after at least 16 law enforcement officers were murdered since 2022 started.

The outlet noted that the police officers were killed after leaving their headquarters or traveling between their homes and the police station.

As of April 7, more than 20 police officers had exited their posts since November, when the government denied them better wages and refused to permit them to carry their weapons while off duty.

As homicides continue to rise in Zacatecas, Insight Crime reported that the government of Mexico launched the Operations Zacatecas II last November. The program sent over 3,000 to 4,000 troops to the state to control and keep order in the area.

Mexican Drug Cartels in Mexico's State of Zacatecas

According to Insight Crime, the state of Zacatecas is a battleground for several Mexican drug cartels that have forged alliances in the area. The most prominent groups in the area are the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Reports noted that Zacatecas is vital to Mexican drug cartels because of its strategic location along drug trafficking routes to the U.S.

Despite the presence of the drug cartels in Zacatecas in Mexico, Insight Crime reported that the authorities made very few arrests. In 2020, 95 percent of crimes in Zacatecas were either not denounced or not investigated.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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