EL PASO, Texas -- According to the U.S. State Department, crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it is often violent, especially in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, and Monterrey.

Some Borderland residents said they do not cross the border for safety reasons.

“I don't like to go. I rather stay here in the states where I know I'm safer,” said Crystal Villalba of the Lower Valley.

“I don’t go because my parents don’t let me. They say, ‘You're going to die or they're going to kidnap you,’” said Miguel Zavala of Horizon.

U.S. citizen who are victims of crime in Mexico are encouraged to report the incident to the nearest police headquarters and to the nearest U.S. consular office.

The U.S. State Department’s Web site has warnings for Americans traveling to Mexico. While there have been kidnappings and homicide in the border region, drug-related violence has increased dramatically in recent months.

Juarez and Tijuana are listed on the state department website as having a rising number of car crashes in which police ask Americans for money.

It seems most people KFOX spoke with had a story about Juarez police.

“They (friends) were drunk driving, and one of the cops stopped them. They were scared, and the cop told them, 'Give me $60 and I'll let you go,'” said Zavala.

“A cop stopped her (mom) and she wasn't doing anything wrong. He said she was speeding and that she had to write him a check so that he wouldn't give her a ticket,” said Villalba.

The government says it cannot accurately track whether there has been an increase in crimes against Americans in Mexico because so few report them.