( CNN ) -- Americans should avoid all but essential travel to all or parts of 14 Mexican states , the U.S. State Department warns as violence has spread . Shootouts , kidnappings and carjackings have climbed , as have cartels , also known as transnational criminal organizations ( TCO ) , the State Department said this week in a broadened travel warning . While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico every year , the country 's ongoing violence and security concerns pose risks for U.S. citizens , and travelers should take precautions , the State Department advises . `` The TCOs themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity . As a result , crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and can occur anywhere . U.S. citizens have fallen victim to TCO activity , including homicide , gun battles , kidnapping , carjacking and highway robbery , '' its alert says . More than 47,500 people were killed in drug-related violence in Mexico between December 2006 and September 2011 , according to the State Department . While most of those murdered were involved in criminal activity , innocent people were also caught in the crossfire , the State Department said . Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared a crackdown on cartels in late 2006 . The number of Americans reported murdered in Mexico last year was 120 -- up from 35 reported in 2007 . `` We strongly advise you to lower your profile and avoid displaying any evidence of wealth that might draw attention , '' the alert says . The travel warning urges Americans to defer nonessential travel to all or parts of the following 14 states : Chihuahua , Coahuila , Durango , Nuevo Leon , San Luis Potosi , Sinaloa , Sonora , Tamaulipas , Zacatecas , Aguascalientes , Guerrero , Jalisco , Michoacan and Nayarit . Travelers should also exercise caution visiting all or parts of Baja California , Colima and Morelos , it says . The previous U.S. travel warning issued for Mexico by the State Department , dated in April , advised American to avoid travel to all or parts of 10 states .
Americans are urged to avoid travel to all or parts of 14 states . Shootouts , kidnappings and carjackings are cited . 120 U.S. citizens were reported killed in Mexico last year .