Texas authorities urge travelers to avoid Mexico

What they're saying: “Drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement.

• "DPS understands many people do travel to Mexico without incident, but the serious risks cannot be ignored," he said, urging travelers to postpone or cancel trips to Mexico at this time.
• Citizens who do decide to travel to Mexico are asked to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate beforehand, according to the DPS statement.

The big picture: The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory in October, stating that homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery in Mexico were "widespread and common."

• Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas are among the Mexican states the department advised not to travel to.
• Popular tourist destinations like Cancun and Cozumel don't have restrictions in place but travelers are advised to be cautious, particularly at night.