Texans urged to 'avoid' visiting Mexico due to violence

The Texas Department of Public Safety is advising Texans to avoid visiting Mexico during spring break and for the foreseeable future due to ongoing threats of violence.

The state agency said Friday it is "urging Texans to avoid traveling to Mexico during spring break, and beyond, due to the ongoing violence throughout that country."

The advisory comes one day after the Mexican Gulf Cartel Grupo Escorpiones apologized for its members who kidnapped four Americans, two of whom died. The cartel said it turned over those responsible for the incident to law enforcement.

"Drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now," Texas Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said. "We have a duty to inform the public about safety, travel risks and threats. Based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and the violence we are seeing there; we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time."

The State Department is recommending for travelers to exercise elevated levels of precaution when visiting all but two of Mexico's 32 states. Additionally, the agency tells Americans to "not travel" to six Mexican states.

Meanwhile, officials said over the weekend that three Texas women traveled to Mexico at the end of February, but they have not been seen or heard from since.