Frequently Asked Questions: Travel Alert
Mexico, April 14, 2008
Q: Why does the U.S. Government issue Travel Alerts,
Travel Warnings, and other country information?
A: Since the attack on Pan Am flight 103 in 1988, the State
Department has adopted a “No Double Standards” policy in providing
information to both official and non-official American community.
This policy is vital to the effectiveness and integrity of
our responsibility to protect U.S. citizens/nationals abroad.
If the Department of State has information on a specific,
credible, non-counterable threat or dangerous situation that
it plans to share with the “official” U.S. citizen community
(U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. government overseas) then
that information must be disseminated to the U.S. public as
well.
Section 109 of P.L. 101-604 Aviation Security Improvement
Act (1990) added to the Federal Aviation Act a requirement
that the President "develop guidelines for ensuring notification
to the public of threats to civil aviation in appropriate
cases." The law prohibits selective notification of a
threat to civil aviation to only selective potential travelers
unless the threat applies only to them. These and other related
provisions are now codified in 49 USC 44905 - Information
About Threats to Civil Aviation . After enactment of these
provisions, the Department decided to follow similar policies
in non-civil aviation contexts.
Q: Why is the U.S. Government raising the level from
Public Announcement to Travel Alert for Mexico?
A: The level of caution for U.S. citizens traveling in Mexico
in the Travel Alert has not been raised; only the name has
changed. Effective January 2, 2008, the State Department changed
the name of two country information sheets world-wide. Consular
Information Sheets are now Country Specific Information and
Public Announcements are now Travel Alerts.
Q: Don’t U.S. citizens have to be careful wherever they
travel? All countries have crime, why has Mexico been singled
out?
A: Mexico has not been singled out. Travel Alerts are issued
in cases in which a temporary situation which may affect the
safety and security of U.S. citizens arises within a country
or region. The State Department has also issued a Worldwide
Caution for all Americans traveling abroad.
Q: Are Americans being told not to travel to Mexico?
A: No. The Travel Alert only gives information to American
citizens about a temporary situation which may affect their
safety and security. It is hoped that all American travelers
will heed the information provided if they choose to travel.
The U.S. government in no way targets foreign countries or
regions, and does not intend to affect the local tourism industries
or economies. However, the USG does have the responsibility
to inform U.S. citizens of conditions that could potentially
affect their safety and wellbeing.
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