For years, Americans have retired to central and south America for the lower cost of living. With all the turmoil in the region, Americans might want to take some things into consideration before leaving the states.
Travel and safety varies throughout different parts of Mexico with certain states on the State Department's watch list to not travel to due to crime and drug violence.
However, more than one million Americans still live in Mexico.
University of St. Thomas public policy administration advisor Beverly Barrett said this is a moment of political instability with a wave of unrest in the Andean region— like in Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, and in neighboring countries with social protests in Chile, overthrowing the Bolivian president, as well as turmoil in Ecuador in recent days.
She said this is quite an unusual period to see protests across various countries simultaneously.
"We'll want to watch what will replace any leadership in countries where there have been recent changes such as in Bolivia and perhaps in Venezuela," said Barrett.
She said Americans should be cautious and wait a few months before they move permanently to see how foreign governments become restored, as Democratic practices could bring in more stable leadership.
"Those who are looking for the long term will want to think about more stable factors, the stability of politics, the stability of the currency, economic value if they're making investments in the region," said Barrett.
She said Americans might want to wait until after this period of unrest in south and central American governments before moving south of the border.