Shelter in place advised for US citizens in parts of Mexico after cartel leader was killed
A police officer stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire on a road in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026.
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MEXICO CITY — The U.S. State Department issued a security alert Sunday urging U.S. citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place amid ongoing military operations and reports of criminal activity.
The advisory applies to the states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. It followed reports that Mexican forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during an operation in western Mexico.
Authorities say the strike removes the head of what had grown into Mexico’s most powerful criminal organization and represents a major success for the Mexican government in demonstrating progress to the administration of Donald Trump.
U.S. officials advised citizens in affected areas to avoid security operations, remain aware of their surroundings, seek shelter, limit travel, follow local media updates and obey instructions from authorities. Travelers were also urged to avoid crowds and keep relatives informed of their whereabouts.
At Puerto Vallarta International Airport, officials said all international and most domestic flights were canceled as unrest spread. Several airlines suspended service.
Air Canada told passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport. “We are monitoring the situation and are in contact with local authorities working to resolve it,” the airline said, adding that customers would be notified of itinerary changes.
Airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico said the facility was secured by the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense. Officials urged travelers to remain calm and follow staff instructions. Roadblocks and transport disruptions were expected to continue for several days.
Mexico: Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including… pic.twitter.com/mYXVfMSvmT
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) February 22, 2026
Cartel retaliation
The killing of the cartel leader triggered hours of retaliatory blockades across Jalisco and neighboring areas, with vehicles set ablaze to hinder military movements — a tactic frequently used by organized crime groups.
Videos circulating online showed smoke rising over the resort city of Puerto Vallarta and travelers running through the airport in panic.
An official who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the operation occurred in Jalisco, the cartel’s stronghold and a key hub for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine into the United States.
The Jalisco cartel has been among the most aggressive criminal groups in Mexico, attacking military aircraft, deploying drone-dropped explosives and planting mines. In 2020 it carried out a major assassination attempt in Mexico City against the capital’s police chief, who is now the country’s security secretary.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has described the group as comparable in power to the Sinaloa Cartel, long one of Mexico’s most notorious trafficking organizations with reach across all 50 U.S. states. Both groups have earned billions from cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking.
The Sinaloa cartel has been weakened in recent years by internal conflict following the capture of longtime leaders Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán, who remain in U.S. custody.
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