Due to crime problems in Sonora a new U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Mexico recommends that citizens “reconsider travel” to Sonora, however it noted that areas near the U.S. border are safer than other areas of the state and country.
The advisory stated that Sonora is a key location utilized by the international drug trade and human-trafficking networks.However, northern Sonora experiences much lower levels of crime than cities closer to Sinaloa and other parts of Mexico.
A new four-level system advisory mentioned areas providing Level 1 status are the safest and those at Level 4 are considered “do not travel” sites. Sonora was rated Level 3 which meant to reconsider travel, while five other Mexican states – Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas – were at Level 4.
Mexico had an overall Level 2 implying to exercise increased caution rating. Specific guidelines were also shared by the advisory mentioning that the State Department gives its own employees for travel in each state.
For instance, in Sonora, U.S. government employees visiting Puerto Peñasco must use the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing and are required to travel during daylight hours on main roads.
U.S. government employees are not allowed to travel in the triangular region west of Nogales, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar, the eastern edge of the state near the border with Chihuahua and South of Hermosillo, with the exception of the cities of Alamos, San Carlos, Guaymas and Empalme, as per the advisory.
Tags: mexico, Sonora, U.S. State Department
