The beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Florida are currently bustling with spring breakers.
Officials have stated that this is the first full-scale spring break season since 2019 and that they are expecting even higher numbers than usual.
The beach has a heightened police presence with officers patrolling the area on bicycles, buggies, and SUVs, and leading K-9s between sunbathers on the crowded beach.
Meanwhile, US officials, including the Department of State, have warned Americans against traveling to Mexico due to a recent spate of violent crimes, including the kidnapping and killing of four Americans last month.
However, some spring breakers still opted to visit Cancun, Mexico, where the US has advised travelers to “exercise increased caution.”
Tampa International Airport officials have stated that they are expecting over 100,000 visitors a day during the spring break season, which will run through next month.
This is a significant increase from their usual daily number of 50,000 visitors. More flights into Mexico, around 550 a day, and larger aircraft are expected during this time.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has dismissed the US warnings, claiming they are part of an “anti-Mexico” movement orchestrated by some American politicians.
He has stated that Mexico is safer than the United States and that the supposed conspiracy is being propagated by conservative politicians in the US who do not want the transformation of Mexico to continue.
Obrador has also suggested that the US media is to blame.
The travel advisories and controversy surrounding travel in Mexico come as the dangers facing Americans in Mexico have received increased attention.
A group of four Americans was kidnapped by a drug cartel earlier this month, with two of the victims being killed.
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw has urged individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time, stating that “drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now.”
Robert Almonte, a former US Marshal for the Western District of Texas and retired deputy chief with the El Paso Police Department, has called for a boycott of all travel to Mexico, stating that the Mexican government is not interested in curbing violence.
He has said that “when someone makes the decision to go to Mexico for any reason, you’re basically risking your life. It’s just a dangerous place to be.”
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