Mexico kidnapping: Why a million Americans a year risk Mexico medical tourism

Americans often travel to Mexico for low-cost medical services. But bargain shopping for health care can be risky. 

Over the weekend, four Americans were kidnapped in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, after travelling by car to the Mexican border town for cosmetic surgery, according to relatives. Two have been confirmed dead. 

Border towns, like Matamoros, are among the most dangerous in Mexico. Drug cartels control large regions of the state of Tamaulipas, and often hold more power than local law enforcement.    

But these towns are some of the top medical tourism destinations for tens of thousands of Americans, some who can’t afford health care in the US. 

Medical shoppers, especially those familiar with the region, have learned to take precautions, like changing a vehicle’s licence plate to a Mexican one after entering the country by car so they will be less of a target, and avoiding wandering around these towns on foot.

Price and proximity make Mexico a top medical tourism destination for Americans. ”It’s economics,” said Néstor Rodriguez, an immigration studies expert and professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. “Medicines and services are cheaper in Mexico, especially dental procedures. You can get your teeth cleaned or an implant for a fraction of the cost of what you get in the US.” 

The quality of care usually matches what a patient can find in the US, he added, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned against some infections from surgical procedures in Mexico. 

According to the Mexican Council for the Medical Tourism Industry, nearly one million Americans travel to Mexico for medical care each year. For many border cities, it’s among the fastest-growing industries. 

In Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, a few hours northwest of Matamoros, two main corridors running south from the region’s main international land crossing are lined with dozens of dentistry offices. Surrounding them are hotels, common near ports of entry but especially convenient for travellers seeking medical care. 

In Tijuana, Baja California, just a three-minute drive south of the border from San Diego, a 33-storey medical facility opened in November 2022. Launched as “the best medical tourism facility in the world,” the NewCity Medical Plaza offers care in more than 30 medical specialties, including cosmetic surgery, as well as a hotel and shopping centre. 

Border regions are among the most prone to criminal activity and violence in Mexico. The latest advisory from the US Department of State warns against travel to Tamaulipas due to crime and kidnapping, citing that passenger buses and private vehicles can often be a target. Other Mexico border states also have travel warnings. 

While some border towns have become especially hostile for immigrants and asylum seekers trying to enter the US, violence against Americans in these regions is rare. The especially striking kidnapping of four Americans and subsequent killing of two is “out of the norm,” Mr Rodriguez said. 

“This is a reminder and an indication that the border is not really safe.” 

Safety risks usually do not discourage Mexican-Americans and other patients familiar with these areas from crossing the border, where medical services are usually easy to find near ports of entry. 

“If you cross the border, you know to go directly to your destination,” Mr Rodriguez said. “I stopped going.”