Americans In Mexico Told To ‘Shelter In Place’ Amid Spike In Cartel Violence
Violence erupted across western Mexico this weekend after security forces reportedly eliminated one of the most notorious cartel bosses in the Western Hemisphere — triggering chaos that forced the U.S. Embassy to warn Americans to shelter in place.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued an emergency advisory Sunday for U.S. citizens located in several high-risk regions following deadly unrest tied to the reported killing of a top cartel leader.
“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.
The warning applies to multiple Mexican states, including Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, Guadalajara), Tamaulipas (including Reynosa), portions of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León — areas long plagued by cartel violence and weak regional governance.
Mexican authorities said Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — widely known as “El Mencho” — the leader of the violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed Feb. 22 during a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The CJNG has been linked to international narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling, and brutal turf wars that have destabilized entire regions.
If confirmed, the elimination of Oseguera would mark one of the most significant blows to cartel leadership in recent memory. But as history has shown, cartel decapitations often ignite violent reprisals — and that appears to be exactly what unfolded.
Witnesses and tourists in Puerto Vallarta described stores being looted and pharmacies set ablaze as armed groups reacted to news of the operation. Videos circulating on social media showed vehicles burning in the streets and plumes of smoke rising above city blocks.
Travelers reported being told by local authorities to remain inside hotels and secure locations as unrest spread. Roadblocks and burning vehicles were reported not only in Jalisco but in neighboring states, disrupting daily life and commerce.
Among those caught in the sudden upheaval was Eugene Marchenko, 37, of Charleston, South Carolina. Staying at an Airbnb near a main road, he told Fox News Digital he awoke to blaring car horns and stepped onto his balcony to see six vehicles fully engulfed in flames. He and his wife — who had arrived just one day earlier — were forced to evacuate for several hours amid fears that a nearby fuel tanker, also ablaze, could explode.
The U.S. Embassy advised Americans in affected areas to remain in their residences or hotels, avoid crowds and law enforcement activity, and minimize travel until stability is restored.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau underscored the significance of the reported cartel leader’s death, calling 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 quickly disrupted international travel. Several major airlines — including United and Air Canada — canceled flights to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara as security concerns escalated. Local transportation services, including taxis and ride-hailing platforms, were also suspended in certain areas.
Mexican federal and state authorities have since worked to contain the violence and restore order, though details surrounding the operation and confirmation of Oseguera’s death remained limited as of Monday.
The eruption of violence once again highlights the fragile security landscape south of the U.S. border — and the direct implications for American citizens, businesses, and border security.
Under President Donald J. Trump’s second term, combating transnational criminal organizations and securing the homeland remain central pillars of U.S. national policy. The chaos unfolding in cartel strongholds underscores why border enforcement and anti-cartel cooperation are not abstract political debates, but urgent matters of public safety and sovereignty.
For now, Americans in parts of Mexico are being told to stay put — a stark reminder that cartel violence remains a destabilizing force just beyond America’s southern frontier.