US restricts travel to Nogales, Mexico due to threat

The U.S. Mission to Mexico has limited official activities and travel in Nogales, a busy border crossing in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, to essential daytime travel only, citing unspecified threat information that prompted the security change. Officials did not specify the nature of the threat.

“We are warning US citizens of this threat and change in position,” the mission statement said. U.S. officials urged Americans to exercise increased caution, be aware of their surroundings and seek shelter in the event of an incident, following instructions from Mexican law enforcement.

Regional security issues

Nogales serves as the main border crossing between Mexico and the United States, bordering Arizona to the north. The city has a documented history of organized crime, smuggling operations and periodic outbreaks of violence that have long troubled security officials on both sides of the border.

The U.S. State Department currently classifies Sonora as a Level 3 area in its travel advisory system, advising travelers to reconsider any plans to visit the region. The state is bordered by Arizona to the north and New Mexico to the northeast.