Due to the recent Travel Alert issued by the US Department of State towards Mexico—http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html—the North American Division Office of Volunteer Ministries advises all its groups and individuals planning on travel to Mexico to be extra cautious in planning your mission trips.

Violence in Mexico has increased recently. It is imperative that North American travelers understand there are current internal tensions in Mexico that have caused risks of travel by North Americans. We have reason to be concerned and we urge our churches and schools to consider carefully the risks that may exist for your mission trips and tours.

Groups and individuals must be responsible to know how best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where known criminal activity occurs, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Because tensions can suddenly become dangers, mission trip planners must be responsible to keep yourselves updated on the latest information before going to Mexico. We offer the following suggestions:

1. Watch for updates on the above-mentioned State Department website for travel alerts and monitor if the alerts become warnings.
2. Monitor North American news media to see if actions that at times are taken by U.S. government agencies cause a negative change in the tensions on the ground in Mexico.
3. Stay in close communication with Adventist leaders in Mexico to assess their perspectives of realities on the ground at their ministry site.
4. Evaluate the route your group will be traveling to arrive at the mission site. Sometimes it’s not the mission site that is dangerous, the danger can exist in locations you may be driving through on the way there.