Nine months after being included on the U.S. State Department’s highest-risk list, Zacatecas remains classified as a destination under the “Do Not Travel” warning, the highest level on the alert scale issued by the U.S. government.
Since September 6, 2024, this categorization remains in effect due to the high levels of insecurity reported in the state, including violent crime, extortion, and kidnapping.
On its official website, travel.state.gov, the U.S. government warns that both citizens and legal residents have been victims of kidnapping in the region, reinforcing the seriousness of the situation.
The active presence of organized criminal groups and the limited response capacity of authorities are key factors in the continued existence of this alert.
U.S. diplomatic personnel are even strictly prohibited from making land trips outside the Zacatecas capital or traveling to other locations in the state.
Although Zacatecas has reported a decrease in intentional homicides, this decline has not been sufficient to modify the assessment.
The alert is not updated at a fixed frequency, but rather based on significant changes in security conditions, something that, in the State Department’s opinion, has not occurred.
Zacatecas is part of the group of six Mexican states considered to be at extreme risk, along with Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas.
In contrast, states such as Yucatán and Campeche are under the “normal precautions” recommendation.
Restrictions include not traveling between cities after dark, not taking taxis on public roads, and only using regulated transportation or verified apps.
Zacatecas’s continued presence on this list reflects the U.S. government’s ongoing concern regarding security in the state.
Source: imagenza
