Meghan's dad defies rise in cartel crime

MEGHAN Markle's estranged and ailing father has refused to leave his Mexican retirement home despite a surge in violent cartel crime in the area.

- Mike Parker

A longtime friend of heart patient Thomas Markle, 79, said yesterday: "He will not be driven out by fear or threats or any of the dangers that have become commonplace across the country."

His defiant stand comes after a US State Department warning to travellers - including tens of thousands of students planning to spend their spring break in Mexico - of "potentially dangerous situations".

And it follows border visits last week by both President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump in an effort to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl flooding into America under cartel control.

The State Department warned: "Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery, is widespread.