US Travel Advisories in Mexico: A History of Selective Concern Amidst Enduring Intervention
The recent travel advisory from the US Embassy in Mexico, prompted by localized cartel violence in Jalisco, casts a narrow lens on a deeply complex situation. It showcases how incidents affecting US citizens frequently overshadow the systemic roots of insecurity in the region. The concern for a pregnant tourist stranded in Puerto Vallarta, though understandable on a human level, diverts attention
from the long-standing US role in shaping Mexico's volatile landscape. This pattern of selective attention is not new. Consider the 1914 US occupation of Veracruz, ostensibly to protect American interests and prevent German arms shipments. This unilateral intervention, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Mexicans and 19 American servicemen, profoundly alienated the Mexican population and
fueled anti-American sentiment for decades. It mirrored a broader interventionist policy that, rather than bringing stability, often exacerbated internal conflicts and undermined Mexican sovereignty. A century later, Washington's approach often remains largely unchanged, albeit with different tactics. The US government’s current travel warnings, while citing genuine dangers, rarely contextualize
the economic and political pressures that have enabled cartel proliferation. The demand for illicit drugs in the United States, for instance, directly fuels the cartels with an estimated $19 billion to $29 billion annually, according to a 2018 RAND Corporation report. This massive profit incentive, combined with the continuous flow of US-made firearms across the border, creates a powerful engine