The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City on Sunday issued a shelter-in-place advisory for American citizens in several Mexican states following violent unrest after Mexican security forces killed one of the country’s most powerful cartel leaders, officials said.
“Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the named locations should shelter in place until further notice,” the State Department said in its security alert.
Witnesses and tourists in Puerto Vallarta described scenes of stores being ransacked and pharmacies burned as cartel members and other armed groups reacted to news of the operation. Some travelers reported being unable to leave the area amid heightened security and chaos, Fox News reported.
Videos circulated on social media showed smoke rising over streets and vehicles on fire across the city. Some visitors said they were directed by local authorities to remain at their hotels or other secure locations as violence continued.
Mexican authorities said Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Feb. 22. The cartel has been linked to widespread drug trafficking and criminal activity in Mexico and abroad.
The areas noted by the State Department include Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), parts of Michoacán State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo León State.
In the aftermath of the operation, roadblocks, burning vehicles, and other retaliatory actions were reported in Jalisco and other states, leading to increased insecurity in major cities and tourist destinations, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara.
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The U.S. Embassy’s advisory urged U.S. citizens in the affected areas — including parts of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León — to remain in their residences or hotels, avoid crowds and law enforcement activity, and minimize travel until conditions stabilize.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called El Mencho one of the “bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins” in a post on X.
“This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,” he wrote.
The unrest also disrupted travel: several major airlines, including United and Air Canada, canceled flights to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara amid escalating violence, and some local services, including taxis and ride-hailing, were suspended.
Mexican officials have worked to contain the unrest and restore order as federal and state authorities respond to the security situation. The U.S. Embassy and the State Department continue to monitor developments and provide updates to American citizens in the region.
While staying at an Airbnb near a main road, Eugene Marchenko, 37, from Charleston, South Carolina, recounted to Fox News Digital that he woke up to the sound of blaring horns. Looking out from his balcony, he saw six cars fully engulfed in flames. He and his wife, who had just arrived in Mexico the day before, were forced to evacuate for several hours due to concerns that a nearby fuel tanker, which was also on fire, might explode.
Mexican military and security forces conducted the operation on Feb. 22 in Tapalpa, Jalisco, a region long associated with the CJNG and its leadership. Reports indicate Oseguera was killed during that raid, though official confirmation and details from Mexican authorities were limited as of Monday.
The unrest following the reported killing also included roadblocks and burned vehicles on highways across parts of the state and in other nearby areas, according to multiple national and international news reports.
In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and other foreign missions issued security advisories urging American and other foreign citizens in affected areas to shelter in place and avoid travel until conditions improve.
Air travel to and from Puerto Vallarta and other regional airports was disrupted, with several major airlines suspending or canceling flights amid safety concerns.
