Updated travel advisories for Mexico now include a warning about potential terrorist activities
In a move that has sparked controversy and travel concerns, the United States government has designated six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The six states classified by the U.S. Department of State as "Level 4 - Do Not Travel" due to terrorism, violence, and kidnapping risks are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.
Notably, Guerrero includes the dangerous city of Acapulco, and Tamaulipas, located along the U.S. border, has seen increased violent clashes and the use of improvised explosive devices by criminal groups. These warnings reflect heightened security concerns affecting American travelers in these six states.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, in response to the US terrorism warning for Mexico, emphasized that people continue to come to Mexico despite the warning. She also stated that Mexico "would never allow the United States Army or any other institution of the United States to set foot on Mexican territory." Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico is willing to cooperate and collaborate with the United States on security issues, but will never accept subordination or any violation of its sovereignty.
Despite the US warning, over 7 million people flew to Mexico from the United States in the first half of 2025, while almost 1.7 million visitors arrived from Canada. Mexican authorities have arrested thousands of criminal group members and seized large quantities of narcotics since the current government took office last October.
The US's warning of the risk of terrorism in Mexico comes as the Trump administration continues to pressure Mexico to do more to combat drug cartels. Trump imposed so-called "fentanyl tariffs" on imports from Mexico that are not covered by the USMCA. Last week, it was revealed that Trump had signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the U.S. government has designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
In a significant development, Mexican and United States authorities announced that 26 organized crime figures had been sent to the U.S. as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. Despite the challenges, Campeche and Yucatan are Mexico's only "Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions" states.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing battle against drug cartels and organized crime in Mexico and the United States.
- The US's designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations has led to increased concerns for American travelers, particularly in the six states classified as Level 4 - Do Not Travel: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.
- Acapulco, situated in the dangerous state of Guerrero, has been a hotspot for criminal activities like terrorism, violence, and kidnapping, according to travel advisories.
- Amidst these travel concerns, politics and diplomacy between Mexico and the US have become increasingly tense, with President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly stating that Mexico will never allow the US Army or any of its institutions on its territory.
- The designation of these Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations by the US follows a series of pressure from the Trump administration for Mexico to combat drug cartels more effectively. This includes the imposition of 'fentanyl tariffs' on imports from Mexico and the signing of a directive to use military force against certain drug cartels.
