U.S. updates Mexico travel advisory

The U.S. State Department’s current travel advisory for Mexico keeps the country at Level 2, or “Exercise increased caution,” while maintaining stricter warnings for a number of states. The advisory page says it was issued on May 29, 2026, and includes separate state-by-state risk levels as well as restrictions the U.S. government applies to its own employees in Mexico. The advisory also adds a World Cup-specific note. The State Department says Americans traveling to Mexico for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches should follow the latest guidance from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. It says the main risks cited for Mexico are terrorism, crime and kidnapping, and warns that conditions can vary widely by state and even within a state. (travel.state.gov) ### Which parts of Mexico are under the strongest warning? Six Mexican states are listed at Level 4, the State Department’s highest warning level: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. On the department’s advisory scale, Level 4 means “Do not travel.” Seven more states are listed at Level 3, or “Reconsider travel”: Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora. (travel.state.gov) The advisory says some other states remain at Level 2, including Mexico City, Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, while Campeche and Yucatan are listed at Level 1, the lowest advisory level. ### What does the U.S. tell travelers to do differently in Mexico? The State Department says U.S. government employees may not travel to certain high-risk areas and strongly advises private U.S. travelers to follow the same restrictions. Those restrictions include not traveling between cities after dark, using dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based services such as Uber or Cabify rather than hailing taxis on the street, and avoiding solo travel in remote areas. (travel.state.gov) The advisory also says U.S. government employees may not drive between Mexican border cities and the interior of the country, with limited exceptions. It warns that emergency services can be limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas. ### Why is the advisory drawing attention now? The Mexico advisory includes a specific line for Americans traveling to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, which has drawn added attention as summer travel begins. (travel.state.gov) The State Department says travelers should check destination-specific guidance because the countrywide Level 2 rating sits alongside state-level warnings ranging from Level 1 to Level 4. The department’s general travel-advisory page says advisories can be updated whenever conditions change substantially, including when the U.S. government changes staffing levels or internal travel restrictions because of security concerns. ### Does a Mexico advisory mean every tourist area has the same risk level? Mexico’s advisory page says no. (travel.state.gov) The State Department states that conditions vary widely from state to state and that some states include both high-risk and lower-risk areas. It also directs travelers to maps of restricted areas and to country-specific guidance from the U.S. embassy or consulate. (travel.state.gov) The department’s travel-advisory system uses four levels, from Level 1 “Exercise normal precautions” to Level 4 “Do not travel.” Mexico remains at Level 2 overall, but travelers are told to review the state-level breakdown before booking or departing. ### Where should travelers look before they go? The State Department’s travel-advisory page tells travelers to search by destination and review the advisory map before departure. (travel.state.gov) It also recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, to receive email updates from the local U.S. embassy or consulate. For Mexico specifically, the next step is the state-by-state advisory page, which includes the current risk level, restricted-area maps and U.S. government employee travel rules. (travel.state.gov) The page also links travelers to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico for updated World Cup-related guidance. (travel.state.gov)