U.S. Puts Six Mexican States at Same Risk Level as Iran

The U.S. Department of State has published an interactive map showing the risk level for travel to every country in the world, placing six Mexican states at the same security level as countries like Iran, Russia, and Somalia. After the Trump administration issued a global alert for all Americans to exercise extreme caution abroad, authorities launched this map specifying the risk situation in each country, with details on whether only certain areas are at risk or if travel is advised against due to insecurity across four levels. Level 1, Blue Exercise normal precautions (countries like Canada, Australia, and Portugal). Level 1, Blue with White Stripes: Contains areas with increased security risk (countries like Argentina, El Salvador, and Paraguay). Level 2, Yellow: Exercise increased precautions (countries like Spain, France, and China). Level 2, Yellow with White Stripes: Contains areas with increased security risk (countries like Brazil, India, and Egypt). Level 3, Orange: Reconsider travel (countries like Nepal, Qatar, and Azerbaijan). Level 3, Orange with White Stripes: Contains areas with increased security risk (countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Israel). Level 4, Red: Do not travel (countries like Iran, Russia, and Palestine). This map was presented nearly a month after the start of the war with Iran, and Mexico is the only country with different recommendations for each state, with the west and north being advised against travel. Which Mexican states did the U.S. put at the same risk level as Iran? The six states at Level 4 risk for travel, according to U.S. recommendations for its citizens, are: Sinaloa, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero. According to The New York Post, following a wave of violence in Mexico triggered by the death of Nemesio Oseguera 'El Mencho', leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), risk assessments for each state were modified, and Jalisco's risk level was reduced from 4 to 3 in March. Overall, Mexico is at Level 2 risk, according to The New York Post, and is the only country in Latin America with locations at Level 4 risk, alongside Haiti. The risk level for each Mexican state, according to the U.S., is as follows: Level 1, Exercise normal precautions: Yucatán and Campeche. Level 2, Exercise increased precautions: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Aguascalientes, Nayarit, Coahuila, Durango, Quintana Roo, and Baja California Sur. Level 3, Reconsider travel: Chiapas, Morelos, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California. Level 4, Do not travel: Sinaloa, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero. The State Department's risk map also allows you to locate U.S. embassies in each country. Information from The New York Post.