By Ginika Igboke
U.S. citizens in Mexico have been advised to “shelter in place” due to ongoing security operations, road blockages, and related criminal activity, according to a Feb. 22 security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico.
The alert followed the reported killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during a Mexican government operation on Feb. 22. CJNG, founded in 2009, is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful and rapidly expanding criminal organizations.
The shelter-in-place advisory applies to multiple regions, including Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Baja California (Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada), Quintana Roo (Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), as well as parts of Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
“All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Tijuana and all U.S. government staff in Guerrero, Michoacán, and Quintana Roo states have been directed to shelter in place. All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Monterrey have been directed to remain in the Monterrey metropolitan area,” the alert stated.
Although airports remain open, airline operations have been disrupted. Some international and domestic flights have been canceled in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. In Puerto Vallarta, taxi and ride-share services have been suspended, and some businesses have temporarily closed.
The embassy advised Americans to remain in their residences or hotels, limit unnecessary travel, stay alert to their surroundings, and avoid crowds or areas near law enforcement activity. U.S. citizens were urged to follow instructions from local authorities, call 911 in emergencies, monitor local media for updates, and keep family and friends informed of their whereabouts.
The death of El Mencho was confirmed in a Feb. 22 post on X by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” Landau wrote. “This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
Landau also referenced reports of violence following the operation, stating that retaliatory acts were not unexpected.
The Trump administration designated CJNG and other Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations last year. According to the United States Department of State, the cartel has been involved in migrant trafficking, oil and mineral theft, weapons trafficking, and fentanyl smuggling. Officials have said CJNG has carried out violent attacks against Mexican police and military forces, including the use of military-grade weapons and explosive-dropping drones. The department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Mencho’s arrest.
In a Feb. 22 statement on X, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States said incidents had occurred near the Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Tepic airports but that operations were continuing.
“Inter-institutional coordination and collaboration with various security agencies are in place to guarantee the safety of operations and all users. Emergency Operations Centers (COE) at each airport are working according to their established protocols,” the embassy said.
Calls for US Military Assistance
Amid the security operations, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called on citizens to remain calm and informed, noting that most areas of the country were operating normally.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) urged the Mexican government to seek U.S. military assistance to combat cartel violence.
“The Mexican government has to make the right decision for its people and seek US military back up to end the threat of narco terrorists before it’s too late. The drug cartels are a clear and present danger to the US and must be exterminated,” Moreno wrote.
Last month, after U.S. forces struck Venezuela and detained its leader, Nicolás Maduro, on narco-terrorism charges, President Donald Trump warned that Mexico must address cartel violence and high impunity rates.
“You have to do something with Mexico,” Trump told reporters. “We’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it; they’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico.”
The State Department currently assigns Mexico a Level 2 travel advisory—“Exercise Increased Caution”—due to risks from crime, kidnapping, and terrorism. Several states, including Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, are classified as “Level 4 – Do Not Travel.”
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar encouraged U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and follow official channels such as @TravelGov and @USEmbassyMEX for security updates.
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