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Mexico
In a tumultuous week, the U.S. State Department both issued and then promptly lifted a travel warning to Mexico. The warning was published on April 8 amidst concerns that “Mexican criminal gangs may intend to attack U.S. law-enforcement officers or U.S. citizens in the near future in Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi.” All three states are located on the eastern side of Mexico, with the state of Tamaulipas sharing 230 miles of border with Texas.
State Department officials gave no reason for the warning, suggesting “a generic threat that they want to take seriously but not send people into panic mode,” according to Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars senior associate Eric Olson. Until this alert, both governments had repeatedly assured U.S. citizens that drug-related violence would not target Americans either living in or visiting Mexico.
The heightened awareness was short-lived, however, as the State Department lifted the warning just five days later on April 13, citing “uncorroborated information.” Spokesman Michael Toner said, “We thought it was credible information, and then it was later deemed that it was not credible enough to warrant it remaining on the website.” The Mexican government provided no official statement regarding the U.S. travel warning.
Despite the retraction, there still is cause for concern. Mass graves were recently discovered on a ranch in Tamaulipas and two U.S. Customs officers were attacked in San Luis Potosi in February. Additionally, friction arose between the U.S. and Mexican governments after negative comments about the Mexican military made by U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, were publicized. Subsequently, Ambassador Pascual resigned.
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