Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador claimed on Monday that traveling to Mexico is safer than to the United States, pushing back against criticism from U.S. authorities who warned against traveling to the country due to recent kidnappings and other violent activities.
“Mexico is safer than the United States,” Lopez Obrador said during his daily morning press briefing in Mexico City. “There’s no problem with traveling safely across Mexico. That’s something the U.S. citizens know, and something our fellow countrymen know.”
The president’s remark comes after the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) urged residents to avoid traveling to Mexico, especially during spring break, citing an increase in violence and kidnapping.
Lopez Obrador further claimed at Monday’s media address that travel warnings and reports of violence in his country are a direct result of a conspiracy against Mexico by American politicians and media outlets seeking to smear his administration.
“This is a campaign against Mexico by these conservative politicians in the United States who do not want the transformation of our country to continue,” Lopez Obrador said.
“It’s not that this violence you mention really exists,” he added. “It’s manipulation, pure and vile manipulation.”
Despite Lopez Obrador reassuring there’s “no problem with traveling safely” across Mexico, the country’s overall homicide rate remains among the highest in the world.
Currently, the U.S. Department of State has “do not travel” advisories for six of Mexico’s 32 states plagued by drug cartel violence, and “reconsider travel” warnings for another seven states.
Besides the United States—Canada, France, and the United Kingdom also have travel warnings in place for Mexico.
Farr said regions popular for travelers often “thrive off of tourism,” so it’s in their best interest “to keep the destination safe so that more tourists are coming.”
Deadly Shootings and Kidnappings
On March 3, four Americans crossed the southern border for a road trip and veered off course. The group entered the border city of Matamoros when they were caught in a drug cartel shootout and were later loaded into a pickup truck.The shooting left two Americans dead, as well as a Mexican citizen, while the other two Americans were held captive for days in a remote region of the Gulf Coast before they were rescued.
The slain Mexican woman, identified as 33-year-old Areli Pablo Servando, was apparently killed by a stray bullet.
The arrests came as a drug cartel allegedly involved in the kidnapping issued an apology over the incident, according to The Associated Press and CNN. A purported handwritten letter from the cartel was posted in a public area in Matamoros this week, while AP reported that a state law enforcement official provided the newswire service with the apology.
“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter reads, adding that the individuals went against the cartel’s rules, which include “respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.”
