On February 22, 2026, cartel leader Nemesio Osegueran Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, was killed during a military operation with the help of U.S. intelligence cooperation.
El Mencho was the top drug lord in Mexico with a 15 million dollar bounty. He was the leader of the New Generation Cartel that is extremely ruthless.
A few hours after his death, the cartel rebelled to show that they are still powerful even without a leader. They blocked highways and set vehicles and buildings on fire in areas such as Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Ciudad Guzmán.
Many tourists have been stranded in Mexico due to this violence. Airports were shut down and hundreds of flights were canceled a few days after El Mencho’s death.
There were “Do Not Travel” advisories to places like Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. Some people were desperately trying to leave but couldn’t because of flights, and others have said that nothing seems crazy and that they weren’t trying as hard to leave. They have been told to stay inside and not to try traveling by officials.
The U.S. Embassy hotline has been flooded with calls from stranded Americans worried about when they are going to get home.
With spring break around the corner, people are wondering if they need to cancel their trips or if it will be safe to travel there by then. Mexico is heavily dependent on tourism, and if people cancel their spring and summer trips, Mexico will lose a significant amount of money.
A direct advisory from the U.S. Travel and State Gov says the following about traveling to Mexico:
“Many violent crimes take place in Mexico. They include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico.”
Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.
The U.S. government has limited ability to help in many parts of Mexico. U.S. government employees are not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas. Due to security risks, U.S. citizens should follow the same restrictions as U.S. government employees while traveling. Emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas.
If you encounter a road checkpoint, you should comply. Fleeing or ignoring instructions can lead to you being hurt or killed.
Check the map of restricted areas.
Residents of Mexico have been staying indoors and protecting their valuables, such as cars.
Residents have said that the cartel isn’t looking to hurt the residents or tourists and that it is safer than what the news is saying.
People wonder why the cartel is causing so much violence after the killing of their leader. Is it because they want to show power, or is it because they want to show the military that they can and will retaliate if they kill any more members?
This is a developing story, but clearly events have already affected the residents of Mexico and travelers from the US and countries all around the world.
