Texas to Mexico Travel: New Warning on Cartel Violence
Border Bridge Security Beefed Up
Travel from Texas to the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico (which the US Government has been warning against for several months due to cartel violence) is becoming more difficult, especially for those crossing into Mexico from Brownsville. The State Department has warned that - from Monday, March 24, 2025, onward - travelers are likely to experience delays and additional security measures there:
"(Beginning) Monday, March 24, 2025, expect increased security personnel presence and potential delays on all bridges connecting Matamoros, Tamaulipas, to Brownsville, Texas, including Gateway International Bridge (Puente Nuevo). As a precaution, the U.S. Consulate has advised employees to avoid travel on Gateway International Bridge and allow extra time for all border crossings." - US State Department Security Alert
The U.S. Consulates in Mexico advise travelers to Tamaulipas to take the following actions:
Plan for longer border crossing times
Monitor local media for updates
Be aware of your surroundings
Notify friends and family of your safety and whereabouts
The State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, remains under a Level 4 -Do Not Travel State Department Advisory "due to crime and kidnapping."
"Organized crime activity – including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault – is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments."
"Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime. Law enforcement capacity is greater in the tri-city area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira, which has a lower rate of violent criminal activity compared to the rest of the state. U.S. citizens and LPRs (Lawful Permanent Residents) have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping". - US State Department Travel Advisory
Would you travel to Mexico despite these U.S. State Department Warnings?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
