dhs travel to mexico

Update May 10, 2024

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Mexico Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

Be aware of current health issues in Mexico. Learn how to protect yourself.

Level 1 Practice Usual Precautions

• Dengue in the Americas April 18, 2024 Dengue is a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases of the disease. Travelers to the Americas can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. Destination List: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands, French Guiana (France), Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique (France), Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.), Uruguay
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico March 12, 2024 There have been reports of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in people traveling to the United States from Tecate, in the state of Baja California, Mexico.
• Salmonella Newport in Mexico March 29, 2023 Some travelers who have spent time in Mexico have been infected with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Newport.

⇧ Top

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Mexico.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Mexico. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Mexico.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Mexico take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find  country-specific information  about malaria.

Malaria - CDC Yellow Book

Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Book)

Malaria information for Mexico.

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Mexico. However, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Mexico, rabies treatment is often available. 

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas

Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Mexico. 

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites, chagas disease (american trypanosomiasis).

• Accidentally rub feces (poop) of the triatomine bug into the bug bite, other breaks in the skin, your eyes, or mouth
• From pregnant woman to her baby, contaminated blood products (transfusions), or contaminated food or drink.
• Avoid Bug Bites

Chagas disease

• Mosquito bite

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

Avian/bird flu.

• Being around, touching, or working with infected poultry, such as visiting poultry farms or live-animal markets
• Avoid domestic and wild poultry
• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Mexico, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Mexico. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Some diseases in Mexico—such as dengue, Zika, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses.

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Mexico include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Mexico. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Mexico’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in some parts of Mexico. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave, and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Mexico may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Mexico, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

For information traffic safety and road conditions in Mexico, see Travel and Transportation on US Department of State's country-specific information for Mexico .

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

To call for emergency services while in Mexico, dial 066, 060, or 080. Write these numbers down to carry with you during your trip.

Learn as much as you can about Mexico before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on Mexico from the US Department of State.

Americans in Mexico have been arrested for purchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques and that local customs authorities believed were national treasures. Familiarize yourself with any local regulations for antiques and follow these tips:

• When you are considering purchasing an authentic antique or a reproduction, ask if you are allowed to export these items before you purchase them.
• If you buy a reproduction, document on the customs form that it is a reproduction.
• If you buy an authentic antique, obtain the necessary export permit (often from the national museum).

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Mexico for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Mexico Ahead of Spring Break

The warning is asking travelers to “travel smart” and “be informed."

marako85/Getty Images

The United States is warning travelers heading to Mexico to be aware of their surroundings ahead of the spring break holiday season.

The warning , which was issued this week by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, reminds travelers to “travel smart” and “be informed” as “thousands of U.S. citizens visit Mexico during spring break” each year. The embassy continued that “while the vast majority travel safely,” visitors should be aware of issues with crime, drugs, unregulated alcohol, drownings, and more. 

“Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations,” the embassy warned. “U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark.”

The warning also reminded American travelers that drug possession and use is illegal in Mexico, including medical marijuana. It also advised that unregulated alcohol may be contaminated, that counterfeit medication is common, and that guns are illegal in Mexico.

When it comes to the country’s popular beaches, the embassy reminded travelers some beaches may have strong rip tides and “may lack lifeguards, warnings, or signs of unsafe conditions.”

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a similar spring break warning last year .

The U.S. Department of State classifies different states in Mexico under different warning levels. While travelers can “exercise normal precautions” when traveling to the Campeche and Yucatan states, the State Department warns them to “exercise increased caution” when heading to places like Baja California Sur (where Los Cabos is), Mexico City, and Quintana Roo (where Cancun is) due to crime.

The State Department also asks American travelers to “reconsider” going to the state of Jalisco, which is home to popular destination Puerto Vallarta , due to the danger of crime and kidnapping.

The State Department recommends Americans who do travel to Mexico keep people at home informed of their travel plans and enroll in the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to both receive alerts and make it easier to locate them if an emergency occurs.

Travelers heading to international destinations can view all current travel advisories on the State Department's website at  travel.state.gov .

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Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico? Here’s What You Need to Know.

A spate of incidents, including a kidnapping and the death of two Americans near the border, have prompted travel warnings from the U.S. government.

By Elisabeth Malkin and Isabella Kwai

Two Americans found dead after they were attacked and kidnapped near the border. Airports shuttered amid gang violence in Sinaloa. Turmoil among taxi drivers in Cancún.

A number of recent security incidents have raised concerns about the risks of traveling to Mexico, where more than 20 million tourists flew last year to visit the country’s beaches, cities and archaeological sites, or to obtain health care .

Ahead of the spring break holiday, a popular time for American tourists to visit the country, the U.S. Embassy issued a travel alert , urging visitors to exercise caution by avoiding dangerous situations and drinking responsibly, among other recommendations. “Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations,” the alert said. And the State Department has warned tourists to steer clear of six states, including the state of Tamaulipas, where the recent kidnapping occurred — and to exercise increased precautions in other popular destinations like Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Tulum and Mexico City.

An overwhelming majority of visitors enjoy a safe vacation in Mexico, and tourists are largely sheltered from the violence that grips local communities. But the attack and kidnapping of four Americans in the border city of Matamoros, two of whom were later found dead, along with recent disorder in Cancún and violence in early January that forced the closure of three airports in northwest Mexico, is prompting questions about whether the country’s broader unrest is spilling into other destinations.

What happened on the border?

On March 3, four Americans from South Carolina traveling in a white minivan crossed the border from Brownsville, Texas, into the city of Matamoros, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. One of the Americans was scheduled for cosmetic surgery.

Soon after the Americans crossed the border, gunmen fired on their vehicle and then abducted the group in a pickup truck. Officials later said that two of the group were found dead at a rural location alongside the other two, who had survived.

The Americans were attacked as a result of “confusion,” according to Irving Barrios, the state prosecutor in Tamaulipas. Matamoros has a long history of violence and highway shootouts, though that reputation has partially subsided in recent years. Then, in late February, one gang moved into the city to wrest control of drug sales from another, said Eduardo Guerrero, the director of Lantia Intelligence , a security consulting company in Mexico City.

“There are places in the country where the situation can change abruptly from one week to another,” he said. While the motives in the attack remain unclear, the Americans had “very bad luck,” Mr. Guerrero said, because they likely stumbled into a battle between the two gangs.

What happened earlier this year in Cancún?

Uber has been challenging the taxi unions for the right to operate in Cancún and won a court decision in its favor on Jan. 11. The ruling infuriated the powerful unions, which are believed to have links to local organized crime figures and former governors. Taxi drivers then began harassing and threatening Uber drivers.

The conflict generated widespread attention after a video of taxi drivers forcing a Russian-speaking family out of their rideshare car went viral, and after unions blocked the main road leading to Cancún’s hotel zone. That prompted the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to issue a security alert .

Mr. Guerrero said that the authorities will try to negotiate some kind of compromise, but there was a probability of more violence ahead.

Have authorities curbed violence that might affect tourists?

As a rule, criminals in Mexico are careful not to kill tourists, Mr. Guerrero explained, because doing so “can set in motion a persecution that can last years,” the consequences of which can be “very dissuasive,” he said.

But the rule doesn’t always hold. And in two popular destinations for foreign tourists — Los Cabos , at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, and the Caribbean coast — local and state officials have recently sought help from the United States to take on organized crime that threatened to drive off tourists.

A spasm of violence at the end of 2021 and early 2022 rattled the tourist industry along the Riviera Maya, the 80-mile strip of Caribbean resorts south of Cancún. Two visitors were killed in crossfire between local gangs in Tulum; a gunfight on a beach in Puerto Morelos sent tourists running for cover into a nearby hotel; a hit man gained entry to a luxury hotel in Playa del Carmen and killed two Canadian tourists believed to have links to organized crime.

The federal government sent National Guard units to patrol the beaches, and Quintana Roo state authorities asked U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to provide intelligence, Mr. Guerrero said. Local authorities, flush with tourism revenues, invested in the police, which is typically the weakest link in Mexican law enforcement.

The joint approach led to a lull in gangland gun battles in Quintana Roo’s tourist areas, and experts say that drug sales to meet foreign demand no longer take place on the street, although they are continuing more discreetly.

The success in tamping down drug violence in Quintana Roo follows a similar improvement in Los Cabos a couple of years ago when U.S. authorities also collaborated with local officials in the state of Baja California Sur. The murder rate soared in Los Cabos in 2017 amid cartel wars, and although tourists were not targeted, that year police chased gunmen into the lobby of a luxury hotel in San José del Cabo, and a cooler containing two heads was left in a tourist area.

What about tourist areas in other states?

Even in states where crime is very high, tourist areas have generally been spared. San Miguel de Allende, a haven for U.S. retirees, is an island of relative peace in a state, Guanajuato, that has been riddled with cartel violence .

The Pacific Coast state of Jalisco, home to the resort of Puerto Vallarta, picturesque tequila country and the cultural and gastronomic attractions of the state capital, Guadalajara , is also the center of operations of the extremely violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel . The cartel’s focus of violence is in the countryside; Puerto Vallarta and the beaches to its north, including the exclusive peninsula of Punta Mita and the surfers’ hangout of Sayulita, are all booming — and, despite drug sales, the cartel’s control seems to limit open conflict.

Mexico City has become a magnet for digital nomads and shorter term visitors , and concerns about violence there have receded. The city’s police force has been successful in reducing violent crime, particularly homicides, and the number of killings has been cut almost in half over the past three years.

Are there any other safety concerns?

Street crime is still a problem almost everywhere, especially in bigger cities and crowded spaces. Kidnapping and carjacking are a risk in certain regions and many businesses that cater to tourists operate under extortion threats. While tourists may not be aware of underlying criminal forces, their power sometimes spills out into the open in spectacular shows of violence.

The attack in Matamoros is only the most recent example. Mexican border cities, which have long endured waves of violence, are not typically tourist destinations, although Americans often cross the border to visit family, seek out cheaper health care or dine at restaurants.

Three airports in the state of Sinaloa, including the beach destination Mazatlán, were closed on Jan. 5 amid gang violence after Mexican security forces arrested Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the crime lord known as El Chapo, who is serving a life sentence in the United States. A stray bullet fired by cartel gunmen shooting at a Mexican military plane as it landed at the airport in the state capital, Culiacán, clipped an Aeromexico plane preparing to take off for Mexico City. Nobody was hurt and the plane returned to the terminal.

In August, gunmen positioned burning cars and buses to block roads around Guadalajara in response to a military raid on a meeting of criminal bosses. In October, a local politician was shot and killed in an upscale steakhouse in suburban Guadalajara as terrified diners crawled to safety.

Pierre de Hail, the president of Janus Group Mexico, a risk management company in Monterrey, is skeptical that security has improved. “There is too much random risk,” he said. “It’s all about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

What precautions should tourists take?

Mr. de Hail recommends researching the resort and news from the area you’re visiting. The U.S. State Department provides state-by-state information about travel risks in Mexico. As of early March, the department had issued its strongest possible warning — Level 4: Do Not Travel — for six states, including Tamaulipas and Sinaloa. Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur are at Level 2, indicating that visitors should exercise increased caution. (By comparison, the same Level 2 advisory is applied to France and Spain.)

The Matamoros incident shows how violence can flare up in places that have been quiet recently. Mr. Guerrero suggests searching on the internet before traveling for news of recent outbreaks.

Mr. de Hail also suggests buying travel insurance in case of a medical emergency or theft, and recommends that tourists keep a low profile to avoid attracting attention, he said, warning that it is easy to misread situations.

As anywhere, common sense should prevail, Mr. de Hail said: Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry, and avoid dark and deserted places. He recommends making a copy of your passport, remaining alert while walking home at night and not leaving your drinks unattended. “I have had numerous cases of people asking for help because they were extorted coming back from bars,” he said.

He added: “If you’re staying in a place that has a report of strikes or demonstrations, don’t go there. You’re a fish out of water.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2023 .

Isabella Kwai is a breaking news reporter in the London bureau. She joined The Times in 2017 as part of the Australia bureau. More about Isabella Kwai

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Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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We, the voters

Is it easy for migrants to enter the u.s. we went to the border to find out.

Steve Inskeep

Ally Schweitzer

Lilly Quiroz

Álvaro Enciso places crosses at sites where migrants are known to have died in the borderland, this cross represents the death of Nolberto Torres-Zayas just east of Arivaca, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Torres-Zayas died of hyperthermia in 2009, not far from a Humane Borders water cache that had been vandalized and drained. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Álvaro Enciso places crosses at sites where migrants are known to have died in the borderland, this cross represents the death of Nolberto Torres-Zayas just east of Arivaca, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Torres-Zayas died of hyperthermia in 2009, not far from a Humane Borders water cache that had been vandalized and drained.

NOGALES, Ariz. – It's easy to walk south from the U.S. into Mexico. What's hard is going the other way.

A team of NPR journalists experienced that for ourselves, on a bright day in March when we passed easily through a legal port of entry that separates Nogales, Arizona, from Nogales, Sonora.

We walked alongside trucks carrying goods between the two countries. This border is a boon for businesses on both sides, recently making Mexico the United States' biggest trading partner . But it's also been the source of a major political headache: the arrival of millions of migrants from across the Americas and elsewhere in the world seeking to enter the U.S.

We came here to glimpse a small part of the border on a typical day.

We entered Mexico through a quiet pedestrian access point at the Nogales port of entry, and continued about 100 yards to a shelter where dozens of migrants waited with hopes of crossing la frontera – the U.S. border, marked with large green highway signs.

Cars drive south from the port in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Cars drive south from the port in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Children played on a concrete floor at the entrance to the Kino Border Initiative. It was lunchtime, and volunteers milled among long tables, offering drink refills and tortillas to families bundled up in fleeces and jackets.

We met the nonprofit's executive director, Joanna Williams, in the dining area. On the left side of the room are migrants who have been in Nogales a few days or less, she explained; on the right are travelers stuck in limbo.

"We have some people who have been here for months," Williams said.

This story is part of We, The Voters , a special 2024 Election series that dives into the issues that are top of mind for many voters. Read all the stories here .

The flow of asylum seekers from around the world has overwhelmed the U.S. government's capacity to hear their cases. Multiple presidents have addressed the problem in different ways. In 2019, President Trump's administration told asylum seekers to remain in Mexico, waiting south of the border for U.S. court hearings to determine their status.

Presidents Trump and Biden both used emergency powers during the pandemic to turn away many asylum seekers. Now that those powers have expired, Biden's administration has urged some people to apply for asylum from their home countries—and urged overland migrants to apply for entry by making appointments on CBP One, a U.S. government phone app.

Migrants rest for a moment at the Kino Border Initiative shelter in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Migrants rest for a moment at the Kino Border Initiative shelter in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Today hundreds, even thousands, of people reach this part of the border on a daily basis, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducts only 100 asylum interviews per day in Nogales, Williams said.

"They have to apply for an appointment every single day," Williams said. "It takes the families about five or six months for that request to be granted – unless they win the [interview] lottery."

A couple seated at a nearby table had just won that lottery, securing an interview with Customs and Border Protection in Nogales. Carla and Jose, who traveled from Venezuela with their two children, were instructed to show up at the port of entry to speak with agents about their case. (NPR agreed to only use Carla and Jose's first names to maintain their privacy during the asylum process.)

We, The Voters

Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the u.s. here's how it works.

Carla and Jose hoped the CPB interview would mark the end of a dangerous and costly journey they made by bus, foot and train through at least seven countries.

They made the trek with a family they were related to by marriage – a couple and their 10-year-old daughter – after they heard it would be safer to travel in a group through treacherous jungle in Colombia and Panama. Along the way, Carla said, authorities extorted them on both sides of the border between Guatemala and Mexico, demanding fees up to $200 per person.

Migrants and tourists walk past the entrance to the Mariposa port in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Migrants and tourists walk past the entrance to the Mariposa port in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Still, it was worth the risk and expense, said Nohelis, a woman whose family had traveled alongside Carla and Jose.

"In Venezuela it's difficult for us to find food and well-being, especially for the kids," Nohelis said. "We have to be allied with the government. If you're not aligned with one of them, you don't get certain benefits."

Everyone in the group said they had family living in the U.S. already — in Carla's case, an adult daughter in Florida. Her family hoped to go there next,after their appointment with Customs and Border Protection, which was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the following day.

The family agreed that if they were admitted to the U.S., we would meet again there.

Our team started back along the road north. We bought a pink frozen paleta, a popsicle, from a man pushing a cart on a busy road. As we approached the Nogales port of entry, officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection asked if we were U.S. citizens. When we said we were, they waved us through without asking to see identification. A few yards inside the United States, agents did ask for passports. Our photographer, reporter and producer showed their IDs, then we were sent on our way.

U.S. Border Patrol

Carla and Jose represent a challenge for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because their story is repeated so many times. To get an overview, we visited the regional headquarters of one of the relevant DHS agencies — the U.S. Border Patrol, the law enforcement body that operates under Customs and Border Protection.

John Modlin, the sector's chief patrol agent, arrived at a conference room prepared with statistics.

In this sector of the border, agents apprehended about 60,000 migrants in the 2019 fiscal year , most of them from Mexico, Modlin said. That was a lot, but manageable, he added.

CBP's Tucson sector is headquartered on the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

CBP's Tucson sector is headquartered on the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

That number tripled in 2021, and sextupled in 2023, according to federal data .

"If we continue at this rate, we'll probably hit 700,000, maybe 800,000 apprehensions in the Tucson sector this year," Modlin said.

For every migrant that used to arrive in the Tucson area, six now come, from Mexico and around the world. They're pushed and pulled by political upheaval, violence, economics, and shifts in U.S. policy — both real and perceived.

How a U.S. Customs and Border Protection veteran sees his agency's mission

Many who cross the border tell agents that President Donald Trump's departure from office encouraged them to think the U.S. would be more open, Modlin said.

Meanwhile, cartels in Mexico expanded their human trafficking business across the world, appealing to would-be asylum seekers on social media, Modlin said. Their marketing campaign has lured many more thousands of migrants from troubled countries all over the world, many drawn by hopes of receiving asylum protections.

CBP Tucson sector chief John Modlin poses for a portrait in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

CBP Tucson sector chief John Modlin poses for a portrait in Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

"What we have seen is a tremendous increase in the amount of people that are claiming fear," Modlin said. "When this was 85%, 90% Mexican nationals, our 'total fear' numbers were probably 1% or 2% across the entire sector. Now, 95% of the in-custody populations are claiming fear."

Migrants are human chattel for Mexico's drug cartels, Modlin said.

Guides who work for the cartels offer to lead entire families across the border through the desert. Many vulnerable travelers are dropped off in remote stretches of hostile land, left for patrollers to discover.

"[The cartels] recognize that when they send these groups over, and those groups are in distress, we respond to it, but it will take hours for us to get to where they're at," Modlin said. "It's all very well thought-out by the people on the south side, who have no regard for life. They've already been paid. To them, whether that person makes it or dies in the desert, they don't care."

Last year, so much of the border force was busy processing migrants, CPB had to close a regular border crossing for lack of personnel .

The border fence has been littered with razor wire in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

The border fence has been littered with razor wire in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Modlin said processing has also taken away from the agency's mission to combat drug trafficking through remote areas, though federal data show that most narcotics are seized at official ports of entry, not between them .

More than 340,000 migrants have arrived in the Tucson sector since November 2023 . Those admitted through the CBP One app will be able to work legally in the U.S. while they wait for months – possibly years – for hearings in backlogged immigration courts.

Last winter, Congress drafted a far-reaching immigration plan that included hiring more border agents. The measure failed after Presidential candidate Trump instructed Republicans to block their own bill, so he could campaign on the issue. This spring, Congress slipped in new funding as part of an overall budget plan, though the challenge remains as immense as the Arizona desert.

Hostile terrain

The land along Highway 286 is dotted with wooden crosses, marking the locations where migrants have died.

Kirk Astroth pointed them out to us as we trundled south toward the border in a truck equipped with a giant water tank.

"We're going off-road here," announced Astroth, a volunteer with the migrant aid group Humane Borders. He veered onto a rocky path lined with thorny mesquite that scratched the doors and windows of his truck. The long scrapes left behind have a nickname: Arizona pinstripes.

Álvaro Enciso places crosses at sites where migrants are known to have died in the borderland, these two are on a hill just a couple miles south of Three Points, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Álvaro Enciso places crosses at sites where migrants are known to have died in the borderland, these two are on a hill just a couple miles south of Three Points, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

The truck is thoroughly pinstriped after many trips like this. Astroth pulled over to refill a blue water barrel decorated with a sticker of the Virgin Mary.

"We always take a water test first," Astroth said, sampling a few drops from the barrel. He grimaced. "Tastes like chlorine. But it's better than dying."

Authorities found the remains of more than 3,300 migrants in Southern Arizona between 1990 and 2020, according to the Pima County Medical Examiner . Many migrants choose to travel through the desert to avoid a long wait at an official port of entry, even though the government says that will count against them in their eventual asylum hearings. Humane Borders is one of several humanitarian groups that leaves water along commonly used routes.

Migrant arrivals stretched Denver's budget. Now, the city is scaling back aid

Sometimes people vandalize the water stations, Astroth said. Over the years, he's encountered U.S. citizens in the desert who consider themselves unofficial border security.

"They shoot our barrels. They stab the barrels with screwdrivers. They put pen knives in them, throw them – sometimes they just kick the spigots off," Astroth said. On more than one occasion, armed men in the desert have told Astroth that humanitarian volunteers like him are "no better than getaway car drivers at a bank robbery," aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, he said.

Kirk Astroth has been volunteering for Humane Borders for nine years in the Altar Valley, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Kirk Astroth has been volunteering for Humane Borders for nine years in the Altar Valley, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

"We're not trying to help people elude anything," Astroth said. "We're just trying to prevent people from dying."

Humane Borders does not publish maps showing its water stations – that would give vandals a shortcut, Astroth said. But the group does publish maps showing where migrants have died in the desert.

So far in 2024, the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants has added 32 newly discovered remains to its database. The list is likely to grow as summer heat sets in.

Waiting for a day in court

As we drove around southern Arizona, NPR producer Lilly Quiroz called Carla and Jose, the Venezuelan couple we met the previous day in Mexico. They said they were in line, awaiting their appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Later, they told us their family had made it through.

They said they caught a late-night bus to a shelter on the U.S. side – Casa Alitas, run by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona. We met them there, where they were standing at the edge of a giant room filled with 400 green cots.

Migrants wait to be reunited with family members and sponsors at Casa Alitas in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, March 29, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Migrants wait to be reunited with family members and sponsors at Casa Alitas in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, March 29, 2024.

A partially deflated football lies under some chair at a Casa Alitas facility in Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

A partially deflated football lies under some chair at a Casa Alitas facility in Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Carla and Jose both were beaming, despite staying awake all night. They said they waited for hours at the border with people from all over the world – Russians, Haitians, Cubans, before they were told they could enter the U.S.. They thanked God.

Then the couple's day got even better. Carla's daughter in the U.S. told them she would cover plane tickets to bring the family to her home in Orlando. Jose, sifting through documents in a bag, showed us documents from the federal immigration service.

"You are ordered to appear before an immigration judge..." began the official letter from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The letter provided the address to a federal government office in Orlando, where they are to report for a hearing.

"We're hoping the judge is graceful, and gives us the opportunity to live in this great country," Carla said, speaking through an interpreter.

Her family has ample time to prepare. The hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2027.

Footprints adorn the outside of the Mariposa port in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Footprints adorn the outside of the Mariposa port in Nogales, Arizona on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

The audio version of this story was produced by Lilly Quiroz. The digital version was edited by Obed Manuel with help from Alfredo Carbajal.

Clarification May 7, 2024

An earlier version of this story noted that an NPR team walked across the border without being asked to show passports. The story now reflects that border agents asked for passports at a later, second checkpoint a few yards inside the United States.

Mexico tightens travel rules on Peruvians in a show of visa diplomacy to slow migration to US

Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country

BOULEVARD, Calif. -- Julia Paredes believed her move to the United States might be now or never. Mexico was days from requiring visas for Peruvian visitors. If she didn't act quickly, she would have to make a far more perilous, surreptitious journey over land to settle with her sister in Dallas.

Mexico began requiring visas for Peruvians on Monday in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country, after identical moves for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians. It effectively eliminated the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border, as Paredes, 45, did just before it was too late.

“I had to treat it as a emergency,” said Paredes, who worked serving lunch to miners in Arequipa, Peru, and borrowed money to fly to Mexico's Tijuana, across from San Diego. Last month smugglers guided her through a remote opening in the border wall to a dirt lot in California, where she and about 100 migrants from around the world shivered over campfires after a morning drizzle and waited for overwhelmed Border Patrol agents to drive them to a station for processing.

Senior U.S. officials, speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of top diplomats from about 20 countries in the Western hemisphere this week in Guatemala, applauded Mexico's crackdown on air travel from Peru and called visa requirements an important tool to jointly confront illegal migration.

For critics, shutting down air travel only encourages more dangerous choices. Illegal migration by Venezuelans plummeted after Mexico imposed visa requirements in January 2022, but the lull was short-lived. Last year Venezuelans made up nearly two-thirds of the record-high 520,000 migrants who walked through the Darien Gap, the notorious jungle spanning parts of Panama and Colombia.

More than 25,000 Chinese traversed the Darien last year. They generally fly to Ecuador, a country known for few travel restrictions, and cross the U.S. border illegally in San Diego to seek asylum. With an immigration court backlog topping 3 million cases, it takes years to decide such claims, during which time people can obtain work permits and establish roots.

“People are going to come no matter what,” said Miguel Yaranga, 22, who flew from Lima, Peru's capital, to Tijuana and was released by the Border Patrol Sunday at a San Diego bus stop. He had orders to appear in immigration court in New York in February 2025, which puzzled him because he said he told agents he would settle with his sister on the other side of the country, in Bakersfield, California.

Jeremy MacGillivray, deputy chief of the Mexico mission of the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration, predicts that Peruvian migration will drop “at least at the beginning” and bounce back as people shift to walking through the Darien Gap and to Central America and Mexico.

Mexico said last month that it would require visas for Peruvians for the first time since 2012 in response to a “substantial increase” in illegal migration. Large-scale Peruvian migration to Mexico began in 2022; Peruvians were stopped in the country an average of 2,160 times a month from January to March of this year, up from a monthly average of 544 times for all of 2023.

Peruvians also began showing up at the U.S. border in 2022. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Peruvians an average of about 5,300 times a month last year before falling to a monthly average of 3,400 from January through March, amid a broad immigration crackdown by Mexico.

Peru immediately reciprocated Mexico's visa requirement but changed course after a backlash from the country's tourism industry. Peru noted in its reversal that it is part of a regional economic bloc that includes Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

Adam Isacson, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, said Peru's membership with Mexico in the Pacific Alliance allowed its citizens visa-free travel longer than other countries.

It is unclear if Colombia, also a major source of migration, will be next, but Isacson said Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is in a “lovefest” with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, while his relations with Peru's government are more strained.

Colombians are consistently near the top nationalities of migrants arriving at Tijuana's airport. Many find hotels before a guide takes them to boulder-strewn mountains east of the city, where they cross through openings in the border wall and then walk toward dirt lots that the Border Patrol has identified as waiting stations.

Bryan Ramírez, 25, of Colombia, reached U.S. soil with his girlfriend last month, only two days after leaving Bogota for Cancun, Mexico, and continuing on another flight to Tijuana. He waited alongside others overnight for Border Patrol agents to pick him up as cold rain and high winds whipped over the crackle of high-voltage power lines.

The group waiting near Boulevard, a small, loosely defined rural town, included several Peruvians who said they came for economic opportunity and to escape violence and political crises.

Peruvians can still avoid the Darien jungle by flying to El Salvador, which introduced visa-free travel for them in December in reciprocation for a similar move by Peru's government. But they would still have to travel over land through Mexico, where many are robbed or kidnapped.

Ecuadoreans, who have needed visas to enter Mexico since September 2021, can also fly to El Salvador, but not all do. Oscar Palacios, 42, said he walked through Darien because he couldn't afford to fly.

Palacios, who left his wife and year-old child in Ecuador with plans to support them financially from the U.S., said it took him two weeks to travel from his home near the violent city of Esmeralda to Mexico's border with Guatemala. It then took him two months to cross Mexico because immigration authorities turned him around three times and bused him back to the southern part of the country. He said he was robbed repeatedly.

Palacios finally reached Tijuana and, after three nights in a hotel, crossed into the U.S. A Border Patrol agent spotted him with migrants from Turkey and Brazil and drove them to the dirt lot to wait for a van or bus to take them to a station for processing. Looking back on the journey, Palacios said he would rather cross Darien Gap 100 times than Mexico even once.

Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed.

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Ted Hesson is an immigration reporter for Reuters, based in Washington, D.C. His work focuses on the policy and politics of immigration, asylum and border security. Prior to joining Reuters in 2019, Ted worked for the news outlet POLITICO, where he also covered immigration. His articles have appeared in POLITICO Magazine, The Atlantic and VICE News, among other publications. Ted holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and bachelor's degree from Boston College.

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New asylum restriction along U.S.-Mexico border challenged in federal court

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez

May 12, 2023 / 2:28 AM EDT / CBS News

El Paso, Texas — Advocates for migrants filed a lawsuit late Thursday in federal court challenging a new Biden administration restriction on asylum that officials say will deter unlawful crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups asked the federal district court in San Francisco to block the rule, saying the policy, which took effect Friday, violates U.S. asylum law.

At the center of the suit is a regulation the Biden administration is hoping will deter illegal border crossings following the end of the Title 42 pandemic-era expulsion policy . It expired at midnight Thursday due to the termination of the national COVID-19 public health emergency .

The policy, which mirrors Trump-era rules, disqualifies migrants who cross the southern border without permission from getting asylum if they did not first ask for humanitarian refuge in a third country, such as Mexico, on their way to the U.S.

In practice, the rule will disqualify most non-Mexican migrants from asylum. Those found ineligible for asylum under the rule could face swift deportation to their home country or Mexico and a five-year ban from re-entering the U.S. Those who attempt to re-enter the country illegally could face criminal charges, the Biden administration has warned.

In their lawsuit, advocates said the Biden administration regulation "attempts to resuscitate and combine the illegal features" of two Trump administration policies that were blocked in court. One of those rules disqualified migrants from asylum if they entered the U.S. in-between ports of entry, while the other barred migrants from asylum if they failed to seek protection in a third transit country.

The ACLU successfully challenged both Trump-era rules and persuaded judges to halt them.

"The Rule operates just as the Trump Administration's prior asylum bans did: Asylum seekers subject to the Rule—all non-Mexicans—are categorically barred unless they satisfy one of the enumerated and limited conditions or exceptions," the suit says.

Under U.S. asylum law, migrants on American soil are allowed to request protection, regardless of how they entered the country. Because the system is massively backlogged, migrants wait an average of years for a decision. The legal threshold for asylum is very high and many migrants don't ultimately meet the eligibility criteria of proving that they fled persecution that stemmed from certain factors, such as their religion or politics.

It's unclear whether federal courts will find the Biden administration's regulation illegal. While the new restriction is based on penalizing migrants for entering the U.S. without permission and for not seeking asylum elsewhere, it is less restrictive than the near-total asylum bans enacted under former President Donald Trump.

The Biden administration's asylum restriction, for example, does not apply to unaccompanied children or migrants who secure an appointment to enter the U.S. through a mobile app for asylum-seekers in Mexico or who are sponsored by U.S.-based individuals under a program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

The rule also includes limited exemptions for migrants facing an "imminent and extreme threat" in Mexico, those with "acute" medical emergencies and victims of severe human trafficking.

The Biden administration has also argued that its approach to the asylum restrictions is different than the Trump administration's efforts because it is pairing the measure with expanded channels for would-be migrants to fly or otherwise enter the U.S. legally

"This rule responds to the elevated encounters we are experiencing at the border and is critical to creating an orderly process to seek protection in the United States at a time when Congress refuses to reform our broken immigration laws or provide the necessary funds to hire sufficient asylum officers and immigration judges to process claims in a timely manner," Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Luis Miranda, said in a statement.

U.S. border officials have reported a record high in migrant apprehensions under President Biden, and the number of illegal crossings has spiked to unprecedented levels in recent days in the lead-up to the termination of Title 42.

During this week's first three days, an average of 10,000 migrants were apprehended daily after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully. The U.S. government estimated that roughly 60,000 migrants were waiting in northern Mexico for a chance to enter the U.S., according to Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.

• Immigration

Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.

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DHS unveils new body-worn camera policies for its officers, agencies

The Department of Homeland Security said it is adopting a new body-worn camera policy for all nine law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Protective Service.

The new policy announced on Tuesday will require law enforcement agents to wear body cameras when responding to emergency calls, during pre-planned arrests and when executing search warrants or orders. The department-wide order also said agents are not permitted to wear body cameras "for the sole purpose of recording individuals engaged in First Amendment activity."

The policy comes nearly a year after President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring law enforcement agencies to review their use of force policies as part of the fallout from George Floyd's death by a Minneapolis police officer , sparking international outrage.

The new policy also arrives as the Customs and Border Protection recently released body-worn camera footage of Border Patrol agents fatally shooting a man , a U.S. Citizen, who allegedly drove through a border patrol checkpoint in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The agency said the driver led them on a chase with his SUV and by foot on April 2 and that the driver repeatedly refused to comply with the agents' requests to surrender, later hitting one agent with a wooden club before the agents shot him 16 times.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico had called for an investigation and the release of the agents' video to "allow the public to see for themselves the events leading up to this shooting." 

DHS policy built on public trust, 'accountability and transparency'

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas signed the policy on Monday detailing when officers should wear body-worn cameras. In a statement, Mayorkas said the ability to protect the country rests on public trust, that's "built through accountability, transparency, and effectiveness," in its practices.

"Requiring the use of body-worn cameras by our law enforcement officers and agents is another important step DHS is making to bring our law enforcement workforce to the forefront of innovation, and to further build public trust and confidence in the thousands of dedicated and professional law enforcement officers at DHS," Mayorkas said.

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Each Homeland Security agency must develop its own body camera policies

The new Homeland Security mandate says each agency with law enforcement officers must create or update its agency-specific body-worn camera policy that meets or exceeds the standards outlined within the next 180 days.

"Agency policies shall include the responsibilities for LEOs (law enforcement officers) to carry operate, maintain, and secure BWC (body-worn camera) equipment, including when to activate and deactivate the BWCs," the policy states. "Agency policies shall identify specialized or sensitive investigative techniques or equipment that may require different treatment under the BWC policy."

The policy takes its cue nearly a year after Biden signed the Executive Order to Advance Effective, Accountable Policing and Strengthen Public Safety on the two-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd . The executive order required law enforcement agencies to review their use of force policies. 

"It's long overdue," Robert Griffin , dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University of Albany, told USA TODAY about the policy on Tuesday. "A camera can become the great equalizer between what an officer says and what people interacting with them say.

"(A camera) is a third party that can verify what actions were taken," said Griffin who previously served in an acting under-secretary role in the Homeland Security department. "It's good for our society, our law enforcement and our system of justice."

Prior to Tuesday's announcement, many DHS agencies have issued body-worn camera policies within the past two years.

The Customs and Border Protection issued around 6,000 body-worn cameras in its department in August 2021. Meanwhile, ICE ran a body-worn camera pilot program in November 2021 and the Secret Service established its specific body camera policy in September 2022.

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Joint U.S.–Sonora “Se Busca Información” initiative targets criminal organizations in Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona

TUCSON – The United States and the State of Sonora, Mexico announced 10 new criminal targets for their “Se Busca Información” initiative during a press conference at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona 

The “Se Busca Información” initiative has identified 10 individuals associated with transnational criminal organizations wanted for crimes ranging from human smuggling and narcotics trafficking to murder. The individuals are sought by Homeland Security Investigations and Sonoran law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations) and the Mexican State of Sonora, as well as other federal, state, and local law enforcement officers have agreed to cooperate and share information to arrest these dangerous individuals. This initiative is in the best interest of both countries to pursue a safer and more secure border. 

“Homeland Security Investigations is proud to support this initiative aimed at capturing dangerous fugitives of the law,” said Fransisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Arizona. “The more widespread information is available, our chances of arresting these targets greatly increases. By partnering with CBP and other law enforcement agencies, we make communities safer.” 

The “Se Busca Información” initiative encourages the public on both sides of the border to anonymously report information about U.S. and Mexican citizens who are wanted criminals.  People who have information about the targets can confidentially report this information to law enforcement at 520-310-5914. The public may also convey their information via the ‘WhatsApp’ application. The phone lines are open 24 hours a day and the calls go directly to Tucson Sector Border Patrol and partners agency call centers. 

The 10 wanted individuals’ pictures are placed on posters, flyers, and other locations throughout the border region. In the United States, posters will be displayed at U.S. Border Patrol stations, immigration checkpoints and international ports of entry in the Southern Arizona border regions. 

“We use every resource we have to locate and apprehend individuals who threaten our border communities and nation,” said, John Modlin, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector. “Information gathered through the Se Busca initiative is extremely beneficial in this regard and it is a safe anonymous way for the public to assist law enforcement with keeping southern Arizona communities safe.” 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 520-310-5914 or via the ‘WhatsApp’ application. 

The “Se Busca Información”  Press Conference on May 9, 2024, at the Mariposa Port of Entry is available at the following link: Se Busca Informacion: Press Conference Video . The target poster is available at Se Busca Informacion: Tucson | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov) .

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontli ne: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

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Joint statement from canada, mexico, and the united states following the second trilateral fentanyl committee meeting.

On July 25, 2023 Mexico’s Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodriguez hosted Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristie Canegallo, U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas (virtually) in the second meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to propel and expand actions on our shared commitment to combat the trafficking of synthetic drugs.

Joint Statement from Mexico and the United States on Shared Efforts to Combat Illicit Fentanyl, Disrupt Arms Trafficking, and Humanely Manage Migration

A U.S delegation led by Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Rich Verma were hosted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and senior Government of Mexico officials to further the significant cooperation that our countries already have undertaken, including on the global fight against illicit fentanyl and dual-use chemical substances, combatting arms trafficking, managing migration, and modernizing our shared border.

Readout of DHS Secretary Mayorkas’s Meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Ebrard

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas met with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to discuss the shared challenge of migration throughout the region and the opportunities to advance economic development.

Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on Arrests in Mexican Enforcement Operation Against a Transnational Criminal Organization

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement regarding today’s announcement by Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero about a recent enforcement operation in Mexicali, Baja California that resulted in the arrest of seven individuals for their alleged participation in a human smuggling Transnational Criminal Organization

Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Trip to Mexico

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas visited Mexico during his first international trip as Secretary — a reflection of the Department of Homeland Security’s commitment to a close and deep partnership with the Government of Mexico.  

Written testimony of CBP Commissioner for a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R.Gil Kerlikowske addresses the role of CBP in combating the flow of dangerous drugs into the United States.

Updated U.S.-Mexico Local Repatriation Arrangements