In mid-February, the US Department of State extended a travel alert to certain parts of Mexico. This was due to increased violence within specific states of the country. Originally, a travel warning was issued on August 20, 2009; this is an extension of that first warning.

The alert asks US citizens “to delay travel to parts of Michoacan, Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua” and it advises citizens traveling in those areas “to exercise extreme caution.”

The US Department of State made this decision in response to escalated violence connected with drug cartels and an increased number of deaths in those areas.

On my most recent trip to Mexico, I witnessed road blocks close to the Belize border. They seemed designed to stop the transportation of drugs within the country. Although the cars were thoroughly searched, are road blocks enough to stop fighting within the country? Is a more proactive approach needed to stop Mexico from being used as a transportation route for drugs coming to the US? Will the travel alert be enough to protect or dissuade American citizens traveling in Mexico?

These are the questions I ask, as it seems like a warning isn’t enough to stop the drug trafficking situation, nor stop individuals from visiting our southern neighbor.

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