I am confused why both are listed, and why Cabo San Lucas gets a score of 68, but when you combine the two (to Los Cabos) it gets a score of 80. But how widespread is the violence and how risky is it to live or travel to Mexico? The EU has repeatedly denounced killings of journalists, activists, politicians and judges in Mexico, and urged Mexico to ensure thorough investigations and accountability for the crimes committed. Everyone here has lost someone.. Abortion is available on request for anyone, up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, in Mexico City and, since October 2019, in Oaxaca state. Dont flash expensive electronics, jewelry, or cash around where a pickpocket might see it. A 2017 law made it illegal to use confessions obtained through torture as evidence at criminal trials. The criminal justice system routinely fails to provide justice to victims of violent crimes and human rights violations. In 2019, the National Search Commissioner created a national forensic assessment to address obstacles to identifying and storing bodies. While safety actually improved in 90 countries, it dropped in 71 countries (and remained stable in two), for a net loss. Deadly attacks by gunmen on targets including an amusement arcade and a group of indigenous musicians returning from a concert have shone a spotlight on the violence which has been plaguing Mexico for years. The Institute for economy and peace reports that Zacatecas state has the highest murder rate in Mexico, of 97.3 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. According to U.S. Govt reports, there is no evidence of foreign terror groups having a base in Mexico or working with drug cartels.There have been very few incidents of terrorism in recent years and those were isolated cases.While terrorism could happen anywhere, there seems to be little risk of it happening in Mexico. Since youre warning people away from San Jose del Cabo, the score should logically be lower, not higher. 4. When it is available, its safer than public transportation. Celebrated as one of Mexicos most dynamic and culturally rich cities, Guadalajara has simultaneously become a place of almost incomprehensible cruelty and grief. WE AVOID LATE EXCURSIONS, NO JEWELRY, AND FEW CREDIT CARDS, ALONG WITH A SMALL CAMERA TO AVOID ATTRACTION. Since 2013, the number of applications received has nearly doubled every year, and the capacity of the asylum agency has not kept pace. In addition, Puerto Vallarta is very LGBT-friendly with a very laid-back atmosphere. That means the homicide crime rate was 29 per 100,000 in 2020. The products with the highest level of international sales in 2020 were Figs, Pineapples Avocados, Guava, Mangoes, Fresh or Dried (US$2.94B), Other Fruit and Nuts, Fresh (US$593M), and Fruit and Nuts, Uncooked or Cooked in Water or Steam, Frozen, whether Added Sugar or other Sweetening Matter . Criminal organizations have also been responsible for many disappearances. If something feels off or scary, dont hesitate to run away. In its 2019 review of Mexico, the UN Committee Against Torture expressed concern that few of these cases result in an arrest and trial. In 2007, the George W. Bush administration and Calderon government launched the Merida Initiative to improve U.S.-Mexico cooperation on security and rule of law issues in Mexico, and support for the initiative has continued under the Donald J. Trump administration. El Traicionero, it read. In July 2020, President Lpez Obrador took his first and only international trip to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. Six journalists have been killed under the programs protection, four since President Lpez Obrador took office. Ive never lived through a civil war but I think this is what living through a war must be like, said one. I only had time for visiting a few of the many beauties it offers. Guadalajara has long been one of the most important addresses in the Mexican drug business. 1. The official telling traces the Jalisco cartels birth to July 2010 when troops killed Ignacio Nacho Coronel the gangster credited with founding Mexicos methamphetamine trade in the state capital, Guadalajara. Aguilar, whose activism forces her to travel with armed guards, did not specify which groups killers were responsible for the bloodbath in La Piedrera. The head of the National Search Commission (CNB) has increased transparency about the number of disappeared persons, but prosecutors continue to make little effort to investigate forced disappearances or identify those responsible. Mexico is considered a safe country to visit but there are numerous dangerous areas and regions that tourists should avoid traveling to. The violent crime rate in the United States has decreased sharply over the past 25 years. It truly breaks my heart to see what has happened over the past 42 years. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The media is just making Mexico look like a bad place, (which it is on some parts) but for the most part its a safe country if you stick to the good parts. There have been earthquakes in mountainous areas, as well as hurricanes along the coast, but it is rare to have a major disaster in Mexico.Keep an eye on weather forecasts as you would at home.The infrastructure in Mexico is not that great, so if there is one, it may be worse than if you were at home. With the rate of 138 homicides per 100,000 residents, almost six people are killed every day in Tijuana, according to the Citizens Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice. But with scenes such as those in the city of Culiacn in October, where residents had to take cover as a convoy of heavily armed cartel trucks rolled into the city, being shown on TV, more and more people are questioning whether they may be in danger. Although violent crime is rare (but not impossible), petty crime is common. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Yucatn has a culture all its own, including dishes that you will find nowhere else (Poc Chuc, Relleno Negro, Cochinita Pibil, Papadzules, Huevos Motuleos, etcetera). The southern areas are hot, so drink plenty of water. I have had a connection with Yucatn since that day. Last June, Jalisco gunmen launched one of the most brazen assaults in decades: a pre-dawn attempt to assassinate Mexico Citys security chief that underlined how Lpez Obradors pledges to pacify Mexico have gone unfulfilled. In 2019, journalists registered 609 threats, attacks, or other forms of aggressionreportedly the highest year on record. This project is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Download Historical Data. The two bodies use different methods of gathering information, with the National Institute for Statistic using forensic reports which include deaths suspected to be homicides and the National System for Public Security using only those ruled to have been homicides after the investigation is concluded. Victims of cartel turf wars, random crime and domestic violence included 172 women and 43 minors; citizens' groups demand police accountability EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) Juarez closed 2021 with 1,420 homicides - a 14 percent decrease over an even more violent 2020. Mexico's homicide rate has been rising every year since 2014 but it remains well below those of other countries worldwide. Mexico is also one of the most dangerous countries in the world for human rights defenders. In 2012, the federal government established the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, which provides bodyguards, armored cars, and panic buttons, and helps journalists temporarily relocate in response to serious threats. They often bribe or infiltrate the security forces and pay off or threaten politicians so that they turn a blind eye to their illegal enterprises. The land border between the US and Mexico is open for travellers going to the US who have been vaccinated with WHO approved COVID vaccines. Public transportation and taxis are safe, but nothing beats Uber as far as safety goes. When I travel alone I dont go out at night and I dont drive at night on the highways but have no trouble driving in the cities or towns. 19 Jul 2022. pdf. A few weeks earlier his 46-year-old predecessor, Aristteles Sandoval, had been shot dead in a restaurant toilet in a meticulously planned hit many suspected was the work of Jalisco assassins. Lyft, unlike Uber, has not . El Menchos leadership is indisputable [but] hes discreet. Too touristy for my taste. January 9 - Quintana Roo is one of the safest states for tourists to visit in 2023, authorities say. But also very explosive, they added. While some of the top leaders of the powerful cartels have been arrested or killed in recent years, the result has not been a drop in crime, as officials had hoped. In October 2020, Mexico was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council. The official leading Mexicos response has called massive testing useless and a waste of time, despite the World Health Organizations insistence on the importance of testing. Many have taken refuge in makeshift camps or crowded shelters along the Mexican-US border. Like most big cities, organised crime occurs. AMLO's 'Hugs Not Bullets' Is Failing Mexico, Mexico's Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels, Violence Against Journalists in Mexico: In Brief, On the Front Lines of the Hot Land: Mexico's Conflict, War Next Door: Conflict in Mexico is Displacing Thousands, Mexican Drug Cartels Are ViolentBut Not Terrorists. In January, 10 indigenous musicians were ambushed in western Mexico, The deployment of soldiers has failed to quell the violence, In some rural communities, residents have created their own police force because they do not trust the official one, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. No way. In June 2020, Mexico was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2021-2022. Forbes Magazine interviewed an FBI agent who worked in Mexico, and he said the country is safe if you use common sense. The government has failed to provide adequate support or protection for the estimated 66,000 people seeking asylum in the US who have been placed in the Remain in Mexico program, including people at high risk of marginalization, like those with disabilities and chronic health conditions, older persons, and children. Since 2015 the organized crime rate has deteriorated by 48.1 percent and is mainly attributed. Data were drawn from two waves of a Mexican national survey of public high school students in Mexico. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that rape victims need not file a criminal complaint to access abortion services and that health providers need not verify that a crime was committed to perform an abortion. Cancun saw a drop in visits from international travelers . The CNDH reported 2,234 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 198 deaths, as of September 1, in prisons, which are notoriously overcrowded and unhygienic. As published in The Yucatan Times, OSAC . Criminal and drug trafficking organizations threaten to undermine the strength and legitimacy of the Mexican government, an important U.S. regional partner, as well as harm civilian populations in both countries. Since 2006, crime-related violence has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths. "Montezuma's Revenge," causes most tourists who drink water to get sick for a day or two.Some are just different minerals that you could get used to. But for the Ayalas, and thousands of families like them, the consequences have been cataclysmic. For a complete crime and safety report for all of Mexico please visit El Crimen. And some parts of Mexico where drug cartel violence is at its worst have long been on a no-go list, with a level 4 no-go advisory. 2023 Copyright by Travel Safe - Abroad. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Mexican cartels represent the greatest drug-related threat, supplying heroin, marijuana, methamphetamines, and other drugs, to the United States. While on the campaign trail, then-candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (often referred to as AMLO) proposed several strategies to combat crime-related violence. The government reported more than 75,000 people disappeared, as of November 2020the vast majority from 2006 onwards. WE WILL EVEN HAVE LUNCH WITH OUR DRIVER TO MAKE US AND HIM FEEL AT EASE. People are VERY friendly. Officials have conceded that more than 26,000 bodies remain unidentified. In the face of uninvestigated violence, many journalists self-censor. These crimes are rarely reported, investigated, or punished. Hold-ups of buses happen from time to time . Criminals wander around at night looking for an easy target, and a tourist alone is an easy target. Mexico has a lot to offer, from beautiful beaches, mountains, canyons, and rich cultural life from a diverse group of influences. Nearby places of interest include Progreso, Dzibilchaltn, Uxmal (and the Ruta Puuc), the Grutas de Loltn, Chichn Itz (2 hrs by bus), and various beautiful cenotes. The population figures are based on the 2010 Census by Manzana. Share this via Facebook As with journalists, violence against human rights defenders is rarely investigated or prosecuted. Please sort this out, its confusing, from what youre posting most of the dangers of swimming, riptides, sharks etc are in CSL. Dont be silly, mexico is alright, but as any latin american country, you cannot do things you can do in Europe like going out by night. Mexico Cartels: Which Are the Biggest and Most Powerful? It also diverted $4 million away from its own development programs for Central America to spend on migrant detention and removal. President Lpez Obrador said in May 2019 that his government would reject the initiative and re-orient US-Mexican cooperation to target the drivers of migration to the US by reducing poverty in Central America and southeastern Mexico. Guadalajara is the second city in size after Mexico City and has a magnificent mix of colonial and Tapatios influences. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Lima as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The do not travel designation is because of increased violence, drug cartel activity, and Covid-19. I highly recommend Mrida. So much to explore. Dangerous Areas in Cancun. Here you can truly experience Mexican culture with mariachi being present everywhere, dancing, singing and many, many amazing Mexican dishes that leave my mouth watering just thinking about them. Share this via LinkedIn In July 2019, Mexico supported a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines. We see it and we do nothing because we know exactly what will happen if we do, said another local. The group marched around the memorial to mourn more recently lost souls, and Mara Guadalupe Ayala, 47, described the disappearance of her 25-year-old son, Alfredo, in September 2019. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. In October 2020, the government eliminated the public trust that paid for protection measures, putting the mechanism in a precarious financial situation. Authorities routinely fail to investigate crimes against journalists adequately, often preemptively ruling out their profession as a motive. As of October 2019, there was a backlog of more than 63,000 people with pending asylum claims, and 44 percent of people who applied in 2018 were still waiting, according to the refugee rights group Asylum Access. It might be great, or you might get killed. His critics argue that the president's lack of a defined strategy to combat criminal groups has led to a further increase in violence. Many human rights defenders called her appointment unconstitutional, saying that Piedra Ibarra, a former senior member of the presidents party, is too close to the administration to be autonomous and apolitical. 98 shares. Share this via Email In October, one of El Chapo's sons, Ovidio Guzmn Lpez, was freed on the orders of the Mexican government after Sinaloa cartel gunmen flooded the city of Culiacn and surrounded security forces to press for their boss's release. 3. Sept. 27 . Moreover, Mexican cartels killed at least 130 candidates and politicians in the lead-up to Mexicos 2018 presidential elections. You live in uncertainty. Cancun is a place where you go to relax on the beach and admire the smooth, clear sea. In some cases, you can find more than one attraction in the same area, such as beaches, ruins, and lots of variety in Mexican culture. While Cancun is the major tourist attraction, there are beaches just as nice that are not as developed or crowded. Alleged Extrajudicial Killings Between 2016 and 2019, police and other security. Except for last year's extended publication deadline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this report is released by October 1 of each year. In 2018, the number of drug-related homicides in Mexico rose to 33,341, a 15 percent increase from the . According to the Peruvian National Police ( PNP ), crime increased 15% in 2021. Since its creation in 2010, the federal Special Prosecutors Office to investigate crimes against journalists has opened more than 1,000 investigations, brought 217 charges for crimes, and obtained 14 convictions. Globally, it ranks at number 19 in the list of countries with the highest . 9% of New Mexicans reported having a personal experience with violent crime in the 12 months prior to the surveydown from 14% the previous year. Violent crime is a serious concern. For example, global peace declined by 0.3% overall between the 2021 and 2022 GPI reports. Im not recommending you go there but if you want to no one is stopping you. Lyft, meanwhile, released its first ever safety report in October 2021, disclosing that it received 4,158 reports of sexual assault on its platform from 2017 to 2019. The 2021 election cycle has been the most dangerous in recent years, with 782 acts of violence against incumbents and challengers alike, edging out the 774 violent acts recorded in 2018, according to a regularly updated report on political violence in Mexico by risk analysis group, Etellekt. People living in poor or indigenous areas are 50 percent more likely than others to die of Covid-19. Violent crime dropped 5%, from 8.2 incidents per 1,000 to 7.8. Mexico has one of the world's highest . Women and girls continue to face alarming rates of gender-based violence. Share this via Reddit As of November 2020, many people were still waiting under the program, forced to live in precarious, unsanitary, and dangerous conditions with inadequate support from the Mexican government. Torture is widely practiced in Mexico to obtain confessions and extract information. A website compared crime statistics between Mexico and the United States and found Mexico to be less dangerous in many statistical categories.