The U.S. government is asking people to avoid traveling to certain areas of the Texas-Mexico border due to security concerns.
A warning on the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico website states it is aware of the gun battles happening in and around Reynosa during late night and early morning hours.
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Reynosa, Tamaulipas is located across the border from Hidalgo in Rio Grande Valley.
The warning was issued on Monday, the same day that U.S. Border Patrol officials reported shots were fired in Fronton, located in Starr County. No injuries were reported.
Tamaulipas is the only Texas-Mexico border state listed under the “Do Not Travel To” distinction by the State Department.
The Consulate’s office states that Tamaulipas has issued a warning for people to avoid moving or touching improvised explosive devices. IEDs have been found along roads in the areas of Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso and San Fernando.
U.S. government employees should avoid traveling to Reynosa and Rio Bravo at night. They should also avoid dirt roads in Tamaulipas, officials said.
Chihuahua, a Mexican state also located on the Texas-Mexico border, is listed under “Level 3: Reconsider Travel.”
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Federal authorities have these distinctions in place to limit travel for U.S. government employees and to give guidance to U.S. citizens.
“Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico,” the advisory states. “The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.”
See below for a list of Mexico travel advisories.
Do Not Travel To:
- Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Guerrero state due to crime.
- Michoacan state due to crime.
- Sinaloa state due to crime.
- Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Reconsider Travel To:
- Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Chiapas state due to crime.
- Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Guanajuato state due to crime.
- Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Morelos state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping.
Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:
- Aguascalientes state due to crime.
- Baja California Sur state due to crime.
- Coahuila state due to crime.
- Durango state due to crime.
- Hidalgo state due to crime.
- Mexico City due to crime.
- Mexico State due to crime and kidnapping.
- Nayarit state due to crime.
- Nuevo Leon state due to crime.
- Oaxaca state due to crime.
- Puebla state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Queretaro state due to crime.
- Quintana Roo state due to crime.
- San Luis Potosi state due to crime and kidnapping.
- Tabasco state due to crime.
- Tlaxcala state due to crime.
- Veracruz state due to crime.
Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:
Click here for more guidelines on traveling to Mexico.