Americans urged to avoid dangerous border state despite US lifting shelter order

US officials have lifted a shelter-in-place order for government employees in Matamoros after law enforcement activity there subsided. However, they continue to advise Americans against travel to Tamaulipas, the Mexican state where the city is located, because it remains under the State Department’s highest-level warning.

The order followed two arrests and roadblocks across Tamaulipas. Mexican authorities said one suspect was an alleged senior figure in the Gulf Cartel’s Los Ciclones faction, and linked him to crimes including kidnapping and extortion. Mexico deployed 450 personnel and two helicopters to the area; US officials advised people there to follow local media, stay alert and tell family and friends they are safe.