Why can't the military go to Mexico?

The U.S. military can't just "go to" Mexico for large-scale operations due to Mexican sovereignty, requiring official invitation and agreement, but more commonly, restrictions exist for U.S. service members' personal travel to certain high-risk Mexican states due to cartel violence, kidnapping, and crime, as outlined in Department of Defense travel advisories, though some tourist areas remain safe. While the U.S. military can assist with border security within U.S. territory (like the Posse Comitatus Act restricts domestic law enforcement), large incursions into Mexico for cartel fighting face significant legal, political, and diplomatic hurdles, with Mexico pushing for U.S. help with arms trafficking instead.

Is the US military allowed in Mexico?

While it is accurate that certain areas and towns in Mexico are off limits to active-duty service members and are under travel advisory from our government, there are a variety of tourism zones that are safe to visit, including Los Cabos (which encompasses Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and La Paz) in the Baja ...

What parts of Mexico can the military not go to?

Michoacan, Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Sonora and most recently added Nayarit are off-limits to active duty military personnel unless they are executing official travel orders.

Can I use my military ID to go to Mexico?

Voter's registration card, military ID, driver's license and social security cards are not considered valid forms of citizenship identification. For more information on the San Diego ‒ Tijuana border crossing, visit Smart Border Coalition.

Can the active duty air force go to Mexico?

When entering Mexico, for any reason, all personnel should have a valid U.S. passport. For unofficial travel, such as leave, pass or liberty, personnel will need to be aware of restricted and non-restricted states. Personnel may not cross a restricted state to get to an unrestricted state.

Real Reason US Doesn't Wipe Out the Mexican Cartels

Is Mexico under military rule?

The Mexican military has been under civilian government control with no President of Mexico being military generals since 1946. The fact of Mexico's civilian control of the military is in contrast the situation in many other countries in Latin America.

Is there a US travel warning for Mexico?

Advisory summary

There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. The U.S. government has limited ability to help in many parts of Mexico.

Can I go to Mexico while in the military reddit?

You can go wherever you want to in Mexico. The guard has no power over you when you are not in a drill status. Check the travel advisory for the area you are going to. If you have a clearance you should make an attempt to report it to your S2, they won't do anything about it.

Can active duty military travel internationally?

All DOD military and USCG personnel (active duty and reserve) traveling on LEAVE must obtain theater clearance approval (and country clearance approval, depending on where the traveler is going).

Is the Tijuana border open?

Yes, the Tijuana border (specifically the San Ysidro crossing into Mexico) is open, though you might encounter construction-related delays on southbound lanes of I-5/I-805, with traffic merging but access to Tijuana via El Chaparral remaining open. For official wait times and status, check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (CBP) for live updates.
 

Where not to visit in Mexico?

You should avoid certain states and specific cities in Mexico due to high crime and cartel violence, particularly Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas (Level 4 "Do Not Travel"), while exercising extreme caution in states like Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Sonora (Level 3 "Reconsider Travel"). Specific high-risk cities often cited include Tijuana, Acapulco, Ciudad Juárez, and parts of Mexico City's metropolitan area (like Ecatepec), with general advice to stick to toll roads (cuotas) and tourist areas in safer states like Yucatán and Campeche.
 

Does Mexico guard its border?

Yes, Mexico has border enforcement, primarily through its National Guard (Guardia Nacional) and military/navy, especially since 2019, to manage migration and security, deploying thousands of troops to its northern and southern borders, though they aren't a direct "Border Patrol" agency like the U.S. This force conducts patrols, checks points, and intercepts migrants as part of agreements with the U.S.
 

What countries are at level 3 travel warning?

Level 3 Travel Advisories from the U.S. Department of State mean "Reconsider Travel," indicating serious risks like crime, terrorism, or civil unrest, with examples including Colombia, Egypt, Jamaica, Mexico (certain states), and Haiti (specific areas), often requiring avoidance of certain regions within the country. To find the most current list, use the interactive map on the official U.S. Department of State website.
 

What country isn't allowed to have a military?

Vatican City The smallest country in the world, Vatican City, has no military force of its own; however, it maintains a Gendarmerie Corps for internal policing. Many militaristic groups were formed to protect the Pope and the country and the Swiss Guard belongs to the Holy See, not the Vatican City State.

How many active duty military are in Mexico?

Mexico has approximately 412,000 active military personnel, making it the largest military force in Latin America, with a strong focus on internal security and disaster relief, comprising the Army, Air Force, and Navy, alongside the new National Guard for internal security.
 

Is Cabo San Lucas safe?

Yes, Cabo is safe to visit!

According to the U.S. Department of State, Baja California Sur (which includes Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo) is currently rated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, the same category as France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Can active duty military travel to Mexico?

Yes, active duty military can travel to Mexico for leisure, but it's heavily regulated, requiring chain-of-command approval, notification to counterintelligence (CI) or S2 sections, and strict adherence to Department of Defense (DoD) travel restrictions, which prohibit travel to many states and areas due to high-risk advisories; personnel must have a valid passport and avoid restricted zones, even for transit, with specific procedures for official travel, while tourist areas like Los Cabos are often considered safer. 

Can you make $100,000 in the military?

At this point, his basic pay is $71,604, his BAH is $33,120 and his BAS is $3,043, for a grand total of $107,767. It should be noted that this is just one of the ways in which someone in the military can achieve a total compensation of $100,000+.

What is the 400 800 mile rule?

If the traveler is traveling a distance of 400 miles or less one-way, or 800 miles or less round trip, they can typically use their personal vehicle for official travel without needing to demonstrate that it's the most cost-effective option compared to other transportation methods like rental cars or commercial flights ...

Can you use a military ID to go to Mexico?

No. REAL ID cards cannot be used for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel.

Can a Mexican citizen join the U.S. military?

Yes, a Mexican citizen can join the U.S. military, but they must first be a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) and meet all other enlistment criteria, including speaking English fluently and passing physical/mental tests; military service can then be a pathway to U.S. citizenship. You cannot join as an undocumented immigrant, but as a legal resident from Mexico, you're among the top countries whose citizens serve and naturalize through the military. 

Can I use my military ID instead of a passport?

You can use a military ID (CAC) with official travel orders for certain international military travel (like PCSing) to countries with Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA), but for leisure travel, you almost always need a tourist passport. A military ID alone is generally not enough for vacation or non-official international trips, but it is accepted by the TSA for domestic flights alongside other IDs like a driver's license, or as a REAL ID-compliant document for boarding flights within the U.S. 

What is the new law to enter Mexico 2025?

The new legal guidelines from July 2025 explicitly state that applicants seeking a Permanent Residency visa without first holding Temporary Residency must be retired/pensioned. Temporary Residents may apply to exchange that for Permanent Residency after four consecutive years.

What is the safest place in Mexico for Americans to visit?

Playa del Carmen

Travelers will find Playa del Carmen north of Tulum, situated along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Playa del Carmen is famous for being one of the safest places in Mexico, with a dedicated tourist police force that monitors visitor safety.

Can a US citizen be denied entry back into the USA from Mexico?

The American Civil Liberties Union says U.S. citizens have the right to enter the country, and lawful permanent residents “generally cannot be denied entry to the United States,” but they may be detained or subject to further inspection for refusing to answer border officers' questions.