Entire report found here:http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html

DUAL NATIONALITY: Mexican law recognizes dual nationality for Mexicans by birth, meaning those born in Mexico or born abroad to Mexican parents.  U.S. citizens who are also Mexican nationals are considered to be Mexican by local authorities.  Dual-nationality status could hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide consular protection.  Dual nationals are not subject to compulsory military service in Mexico.  Travelers possessing both U.S. and Mexican nationalities must carry with them proof of their citizenship of both countries.  Under Mexican law, dual nationals entering or departing Mexico must identify themselves as Mexican.  For additional information, read our information on dual nationality and prevention of international child abduction. 

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SAFETY AND SECURITY:   Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence occur from time to time in certain areas of the country, particularly in the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca.

Demonstrations:  The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation.  Travelers should avoid political demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by the Mexican authorities.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any protests.

Chiapas: The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens traveling to the southern state of Chiapas remain cautious at all times.  Armed rebels and armed civilian groups are present in some areas of the state, and there is often no effective law enforcement or police protection.  Violent criminal gang activity along the state’s southern border – mostly aimed at illegal migrants – continues to be a concern.  U.S. citizens traveling to Chiapas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for further security information prior to traveling to the region.

General Safety:  Standards of security, safety, and supervision may not reach those expected in the United States.  This has contributed to deaths of U.S. citizens in automobile accidents, after falls from balconies or into open ditches, by drowning in the ocean as well as in hotel pools, and in water-sports mishaps, among others.

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's travel web site where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Please visit the Safety Issues section for additional safety information.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

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CRIME: Crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it is often violent, especially in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Acapulco, and the state of Sinaloa.  Other metropolitan areas have lower, but still serious, levels of crime.  Low apprehension and conviction rates of criminals contribute to the high crime rate.  U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are encouraged to report the incident to the nearest police headquarters and to the nearest U.S. consular office.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available.  Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law.  In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.  More information on this serious problem is available at http://www.cybercrime.gov/18usc2320.htm.

Personal Property:  Travelers should always leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a safe place, or not bring them at all.  All visitors are encouraged to make use of hotel safes when available, avoid wearing obviously expensive jewelry or designer clothing, and carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on each outing. There are a significant number of pickpocket, purse snatching, and hotel-room theft incidents.  Public transportation is a particularly popular place for pickpockets.  When renting a vehicle, ensure that advertisements or labels for the rental agency are not prominently displayed on the vehicle.  Avoid leaving valuables such as identification, passport and irreplaceable property in rental vehicles, even when locked.

A number of Americans have been arrested for passing on counterfeit currency they had earlier received in change.  If you receive what you believe to be a counterfeit bank note, bring it to the attention of Mexican law enforcement.

Personal Safety:  Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times, even when in areas generally considered safe.  Women traveling alone are especially vulnerable and should exercise caution, particularly at night.  Victims, who are almost always unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal property, or abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).  U.S. citizens should be very cautious in general when using ATMs in Mexico.  If an ATM must be used, it should be accessed only during the business day at large protected facilities (preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, highly visible ATMs on streets).  U.S. and Mexican citizens are sometimes accosted on the street and forced to withdraw money from their accounts using their ATM cards.

Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates.  So-called express kidnappings, an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for the release of an individual, have occurred in almost all the large cities in Mexico and appear to target not only the wealthy, but also the middle class.  U.S. businesses with offices in Mexico or concerned U.S. citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. consulate to discuss precautions they should take.

Criminal assaults occur on highways throughout Mexico; travelers should exercise extreme caution at all times, avoid traveling at night, and may wish to use toll (“cuota”) roads rather than the less secure “free” (“libre”) roads whenever possible.  Always keep your car doors locked and your windows up while driving, whether on the highway or in town.  When in heavy traffic or when stopped in traffic, leave enough room between vehicles to maneuver and escape, if necessary.  In addition, U.S. citizens should not hitchhike with, accept rides from or offer rides to, strangers anywhere in Mexico.  Tourists should not hike alone in backcountry areas, nor walk alone on lightly-frequented beaches, ruins or trails.

Street Crime:  Armed street crime is a serious problem in all of the major cities.  Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Acapulco, and Tijuana, can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals.  Some establishments may contaminate or drug drinks to gain control over the patron.

All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances.  Although there have been several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on toll roads, buses on toll roads have a markedly lower rate of incidents than buses (second- and third-class) that travel the less secure "free" highways.  The Embassy advises caution when traveling by bus from Acapulco toward Ixtapa or Huatulco.  Although the police have made some progress in bringing this problem under control, armed robberies of entire busloads of passengers still occur.

Harassment/Extortion: In some instances, Americans have become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by Mexican law enforcement and other officials.  Mexican authorities have cooperated in investigating such cases, but one must have the officer's name, badge number, and patrol car number to pursue a complaint effectively.  Please note this information if you ever have a problem with police or other officials.  In addition, tourists should be wary of persons representing themselves as police officers or other officials.  When in doubt, ask for identification.  Be aware that offering a bribe to a public official to avoid a ticket or other penalty is a crime in Mexico.

It is increasingly common for extortionists to call prospective victims on the telephone, often posing as law enforcement or other officials, and demand payments in return for the release of an arrested family member, or to forestall a kidnapping.  Prison inmates using smuggled cellular phones often place these calls.  Persons receiving such calls should be extremely skeptical since most such demands or threats are baseless, and should contact the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. consulate, or the Department of State for assistance.

U.S. citizens may refer to A Safe Trip Abroad for ways to promote a trouble-free journey.