The U.S. State Department has renewed and updated its travel warning for those potentially headed to Mexico.
According to the release, U.S. citizens have found themselves the victims of murder, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery while in Mexico.
Officials noted that organized crime rings have started gun battles during the day in public areas and have used buses to block roadways so police and military cannot get through.
State officials are specifically concerned with virtual kidnapping, where a victim is coerced into isolating himself or herself from family and friends and then held for ransom.
They're also warning Americans to be aware of their surroundings at casinos and other gambling locations, sports books and adult entertainment venues.
They're encouraging Americans to consider the state they're traveling to, listen to the advisories, and delay travel if possible.
The warning affects the following states: Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Colima, and Nayarit.
In 2014, 100 Americans were murdered in Mexico. In 2015, that number rose to 103, according to numbers released by the State Department.
