Consular Information Sheet - Mexico

U. S. Department of State ^ | January 31, 2005 | U. S. Department of State

[KittyKares]

Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times, even when in areas generally considered safe. Women traveling alone are especially vulnerable and should exercise caution, particularly at night. Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities. Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals. Some establishments may contaminate or drug drinks to gain control over the patron. Victims, who are almost always unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal property, or abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).

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Robbery and assaults on passengers in taxis are frequent and violent in Mexico City, with passengers subjected to beatings, shootings and sexual assault. U.S. citizens visiting Mexico City should avoid taking any taxi not summoned by telephone or contacted in advance. When in need of a taxi, please telephone a radio taxi or "sitio" (regulated taxi stand – pronounced "C-T-O"), and ask the dispatcher for the driver's name and the cab's license plate number. Ask the hotel concierge or other responsible individual calling on your behalf to write down the license plate number of the cab that you entered.

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Mexican authorities have failed to prosecute numerous crimes committed against American citizens, including murder and kidnapping. Local police forces suffer from a lack of funds and training, and the judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient. Criminals, armed with an impressive array of weapons, know there is little chance they will be caught and punished. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating some elements of the police might be involved.

[KittyKares]

I got the idea to look at this web site from radio talk show host Rick Roberts' newsletter.

I've been to Mexico on a few occasions in the past without incident, but it sounds like a horrible mess right now. How could they let it get this bad? We seriously need to tighten up the border. It is so corrupt that I am sure terrorists would have no trouble paying officials to let them through.

[El Gato]

I've been to Mexico on a few occasions in the past without incident, but it sounds like a horrible mess right now. How could they let it get this bad?

While conditions do seem to have gotten worse, particularly in border areas and the tropical tourist areas, the Consular Information Sheets have read pretty much like that for quite some.

I attended the wedding of one of our exchange students on the Yucatan peninsula about 10 years ago, and my daughter spent a couple of summers there a few years before that. The CIS in those days read about the same, but there was never a problem. Of course it helped to have a local escort, and to be seen in the Suburban of one of the lessor Dons of the town. It also probably helped that the Don is a rather large man, especially by Mayan standards, and looks like the sort of fellow you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. In reality, while he can be quite stern with his help, but less so than his daughter :), he's a really nice friendly guy. Definitely a guy you want on your side though.