US citizens told 'seek shelter' and avoid buildings as Mexican border city goes on alert

The United States has suspended its government activities in and official travel to Mexicali, the capital of Mexico's Baja California state, citing an unspecified security threat.

In a security alert issued Monday night, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said that "due to threat information, U.S. government activities in, and travel to, Mexicali have been suspended on August 25," and warned American citizens of the "potential threat."

The embassy did not describe the nature of the threat, and local outlets reported that no additional details were available. Mexican authorities had not commented publicly as of early Tuesday, and the State Department said only that further information could follow.

U.S. citizens in the area were urged to avoid government buildings, "seek shelter" in the event of an incident, notify family of their safety, follow instructions from Mexican law enforcement, monitor local media and stay aware of their surroundings.

Mexicali sits directly across the border from Calexico, California, and roughly 100 miles south of Coachella, and many Southern California residents have relatives there.

The alert lands amid a stretch of cartel-linked violence in Baja California. Newsweek reported that a police officer and his wife were shot outside their Mexicali home this month, and another officer was killed the next day at a taquería. Last week, Mexican authorities seized roughly 4 million doses of fentanyl pills at a Mexicali property linked to a criminal group known as Los Rusos. In February, the state saw a wave of vehicle burnings and disturbances across Tijuana, Mexicali and other cities.

The State Department already urges heightened caution for Baja California in its Mexico travel advisory. Americans in Mexico can reach consular services at +1-888-407-4747 or enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for alerts.