The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning Sunday, advising U.S. citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place.
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The U.S. State Department issued a warning Sunday to U.S. citizens in certain parts of Mexico, encouraging people to shelter in place amid ongoing security operations and “criminal activity.”
Regions listed under the advisory include the Mexican states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon.
U.S. officials issued the warning after news broke Sunday that the Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” during an operation.
The move effectively decapitates what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel and gives the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration for its efforts.
The U.S. State Department is encouraging U.S. citizens in the region to take the following steps to ensure their safety:
- Avoid areas around law enforcement activity.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements
- Monitor local media for updates.
- Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.
- Avoid crowds.
- Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport said Sunday that all international and most national flights were canceled due to the ongoing unrest. The decision came as numerous airlines suspended operations to and from the airport.
Air Canada issued a statement advising travelers not to go to the airport without first checking whether their flight is active.
“We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the airline said in a post on X. “Customers are advised not to attempt to go to the airport unless their flight is shown as operating on http://aircanada.com, and will be directly notified of changes to their itineraries.”
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, a Mexican airport operator, said the Puerto Vallerta airport was under the protection of the National Guard and the Secretary of National Defense as part of ongoing efforts with federal authorities.
GAP urged travelers to remain calm and follow airport staff instructions at all times.
Roadblocks and other travel disruptions are expected to continue in the coming days.
Jalisco cartel
The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.
Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.
The official who shared details of the operation Sunday with the Associated Press requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, but said it happened during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco, where the cartel that traffics huge amounts of fentanyl and cocaine into the United States is based.
The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military — including on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.
The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Sinaloa, however, has been weakened by infighting after the loss of its leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, both in U.S. custody.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.