Lyons Township High School (La Grange, Illinois) board members expressed concern in a meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025, over a planned student trip to Cuernavaca to take part in a language immersion program. The trip was set to take place next year, until board members noted concern over students’ safety in light of a U.S. Travel Advisory against travel to Cuernavaca by U.S. Citizens.
Update: Lyons Township High School has rejected a planned student trip to Cuernavaca as too dangerous, the student newspaper reported last week. However the school board approved a trip to Peru. Currently, there is a U.S. Travel Advisory stating to exercise a high degree of caution in Peru overall due to the threat of violent crime. Higher levels apply in some areas. A state of emergency has been declared for Lima and Callao. There will be an increased security presence, with armed forces on the streets.
The students were set to visit Cuernavaca. However, the U.S. State Department raised Morelos to a Level 3, advising Americans to reconsider travel. A Level 3 is given to areas with high crime, terrorism and kidnapping.
Since the mid-1980s, 40 years ago, students have visited the same school in Cuernavaca, where they take part in a language immersion program. For the Mexico trip, which has averaged 25 to 36 students, in the past are placed with host families, travel in pairs and do not go out at night, officials said.
For any out-of-state trip to be school-sponsored, it must receive the school board’s approval. At a school board meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025, school board member Gioia Giannotti Frye said she understood the trip’s benefits. But she was concerned about students’ safety due to the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory. She suggested the school consider other Latin American destinations next time around.
Superintendent Brian Waterman said the school examined the Level 3 designation for the last trip two years ago and consulted its law firm. “That certainly doesn’t mean there can’t be concerns about taking a trip there,” he said.
Board member Kari Dillon said she would like to see how the school communicates the issue with families. She, too, wanted the school to look at other places next time. “It’s such a great opportunity,” Frye said, “But Ultimately, it’s the parents’ decision.
Members agreed to delay a vote on the trip until October 2025. Waterman promised to provide the board with more information about the trip in the next week or so.
While this article points out the concerns of one school, the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory, has caused a significant loss of tourism to Cuernavaca and indeed all of Mexico.
Those who live in Cuernavaca, both resident Nationals and Expats are concerned about the portrayal of Cuernavaca by the U.S. State Department.
Understanding the Levels
The U.S. Department of State uses a four-level system for its travel advisories:
• Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- This indicates the lowest level of risk.
• Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- This level suggests a higher risk of potential safety and security concerns, and travelers should be more aware of their surroundings.
• Level 3: Reconsider Travel
- This advisory recommends that travelers reconsider going to the country due to dangerous conditions.
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Level 4: Do Not Travel
- This is the highest advisory level, indicating potentially life-threatening risks, and travelers should avoid going to the country.
Several Latin American countries have the lowest U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory, rated Level 1: “Exercise Normal Precautions” As of September 2025, these countries include:
• Argentina: The advisory notes a higher risk for crime in some specific areas like the city of Rosario, but the overall country rating is Level 1.
• El Salvador: The travel advisory was upgraded to Level 1 in April 2025 due to a significant decrease in gang activity and violent crime.
• Paraguay: While the general advisory is Level 1, some areas along the northeastern border have a higher crime risk.
• Uruguay: An older report from 2019 noted Uruguay as a Level 1 destination with no special alerts. It is recommended to check the most current information if planning to travel there.
Other Level 1 countries include Chile, Costa Rica, and various Caribbean islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. These countries do not have high-risk conditions prompting increased caution or a recommendation to avoid travel.
Why Not Travel Advisories for the USA?
The U.S. Department of State doesn’t issue travel advisories for domestic locations within the USA because its mandate is to protect U.S. citizens traveling abroad in foreign countries. Travel advisories provide information on risks and safety concerns in international destinations, not within the United States, where different agencies are responsible for domestic safety. The State Department focuses on foreign travel for the following reasons:
Scope of Responsibility: The State Department’s primary role is in foreign affairs and protecting U.S. citizens overseas.
Different Agencies for Domestic Safety: Safety within the United States is handled by domestic law enforcement and federal agencies like the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of State.
Nature of Foreign Risks: Travel advisories address risks unique to foreign countries, such as varying legal systems, limited U.S. government assistance, potential for terrorism, or lack of emergency services.
Information on Foreign Destinations: Advisories are specifically designed to inform Americans about the specific safety conditions and potential dangers of traveling to specific countries or regions abroad.
