The new warning authorizes the dependents of U.S. employees to leave Tijuana and the other border cities of Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros. Americans are also advised to delay unneccesary travel in the states of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including tens of thousands who cross the land border daily for study, tourism or business and nearly one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico), violence in the country has increased. It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks in Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if victimized....

Mexican drug cartels are engaged in violent conflict - both among themselves and with Mexican security services - for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border....The situation in northern Mexico remains fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements cannot be predicted.

With spring break about to start, UCLA today urged students to avoid northern Mexico.