Gang Violence At Mexican Beach Resort Kills American Woman

As a record number of undocumented migrants cross into the United States from the Mexican side of the southern border, critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policy point to a number of related concerns — not the least of which stems from the rampant crime that has impacted various regions of Mexico, including areas that were once considered safe for travel.

One recent example of such violence is being investigated as a botched drug deal in the beach resort town of Tulum. 

According to authorities, 44-year-old Niko Honarbakhsh of Los Angeles, California, was killed in the crossfire. Although early reports indicated that she had some sort of connection to a drug dealer also killed in the shooting, investigators say such speculation is not supported by the evidence.

Gang violence has become an inescapable part of life for many Mexican citizens as well as tourists from the U.S. and around the world. The U.S. Department of State addressed this fact in an advisory issued in August.

According to the federal agency, violent crime, including “homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery” were commonplace in Mexico and U.S. authorities were unable to adequately address the situation in a way that would help keep Americans traveling in that country safe.

“In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities,” the State Department warned. 

Private U.S. citizens were instructed to maintain the same travel restrictions placed on government employees, who were told that they “may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands.”

Furthermore, travelers were advised to “avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas.”

Earlier in 2023, the State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory for certain regions of Mexico following the kidnapping of four American tourists, two of whom were fatally shot.

Anjali Ryot, a travel blogger from California, and Jennifer Henzold of Germany were reportedly shot and killed in 2021 as rival gang members fired on each other at a restaurant in Tulum.