Health & Safety

Principle health and safety facts for parties interested in visiting Mexico to participate in our Global Health Programs.

1. There are 112,000.000 people who live in Mexico.
2. There are more than 1,000,000 US citizens who live in Mexico.
3. More than 150,000 US Citizens cross the border by ground every day.
4. There are have been more than 20,000,000 US visitors to Mexico by air every year.
5. In 2012, The Murder Rate in Mexico City ( population 22,000,000) was 1/3rd that of Washington DC.
6. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico was 113 in 2011 and 71 in 2012 (most of them in the Drug trade).

US State Department Travel Info:

Without question, there are prevalent security concerns in some areas of Mexico. The program directors at Centro Pace and MedSpanish understand that there is a risk traveling to Mexico, much as there are risks with traveling in the US and elsewhere. Nonetheless, it is perfectly understandable to want as much information as possible before deciding to venture down to San Miguel, or any of our other sites: Guanajuato City, Oaxaca,and San Cristobal las Casas, Chiapas.

One great source of information for those interested in safety threats can be found in the constantly updated US State Department Travel Warnings.

Also from the US State Department:

Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. More than 20 million U.S. citizens visited Mexico in 2012. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that is reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes.

For further information, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.