What's Happening in Mexico Right Now: El Mencho Killed, Cartel Violence Erupts Across 15 States — Live Updates (February 23, 2026 ET)
Mexico is waking up Monday, February 23, 2026, in a state of unprecedented crisis. What is happening in Mexico right now is the direct fallout from Sunday's military killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — known worldwide as El Mencho — the feared founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). His death has unleashed a wave of cartel retaliation across at least 15 Mexican states, forcing tourists to shelter inside hotels, grounding flights, shutting schools, and prompting emergency advisories from the U.S., Canadian, and other foreign governments.
What Is Happening in Mexico: The Spark That Set Everything Off
Mexico's Defense Ministry confirmed that Special Forces, in collaboration with the National Intelligence Center and the Attorney General's Office, planned and carried out the operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco — a known CJNG stronghold — deploying multiple Air Force aircraft and National Guard units. Seven CJNG members were killed in total, including El Mencho himself, who died during an airlift to Mexico City after being wounded on the ground. The operation was carried out with intelligence provided by U.S. authorities under the framework of bilateral coordination.
What's Going on in Mexico Right Now: State-by-State Chaos
Violence spread immediately to neighboring states including Aguascalientes, Colima, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán, and Zacatecas — all reporting security incidents. In Jalisco, schools were canceled statewide for Monday, February 23. All mass public events were suspended. Public transit was halted in affected zones.
Here is what is going on in Mexico right now across the hardest-hit areas:
| State / City | Situation as of February 23 ET |
|---|---|
| Jalisco / Guadalajara | Code Red; burning vehicle blockades; schools closed Monday |
| Puerto Vallarta | Smoke-filled skies; hotels locked down; taxis suspended |
| Tamaulipas / Reynosa | Border roads blocked; bridges to U.S. affected |
| Michoacán | Highway blockades; efforts underway to restore traffic |
| Guanajuato | Arson attacks at pharmacies and convenience stores |
| Colima, Nayarit, Zacatecas | Active security incidents reported |
What Is Going on in Mexico: Puerto Vallarta Locked Down, Tourists Stranded
What's happening in Mexico has hit tourists hardest in Puerto Vallarta, where the scenes on Sunday were unlike anything longtime residents had witnessed. A Puerto Vallarta resident who has lived there for 23 years said he had never seen anything like it — he was unable to return home because a bridge near his ranch had been blown up. Canadians stranded at their hotels described the area as a "war zone," with stores, restaurants, and businesses completely shuttered.
Delta Air Lines canceled flights and issued travel waivers for passengers in and out of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Southwest and Alaska Airlines also canceled flights. Delta said: "The safety of our customers and crew always comes first and we are closely monitoring the situation in the region." American Airlines waived change fees for affected travelers as well.
What Happened in Mexico: US and Canada Emergency Orders
Both the United States and Canada moved quickly after the violence erupted Sunday afternoon ET. The U.S. travel warning was issued for Jalisco state — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — Tamaulipas state, and areas of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Americans in all these zones were told to shelter in place, avoid crowds, minimize movement, and monitor local media continuously.
Global Affairs Canada issued a notice warning of violence and roadblocks across southwestern Mexico, stating that criminal groups have set up roadblocks with burning vehicles and that there have been shootouts with security forces and explosions — especially in Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta, as well as Guerrero and Michoacán. Canada urged nearly 5,000 of its citizens estimated to be in Jalisco state to keep a low profile and shelter in place.
What Is Going on in Mexico: Guadalajara Airport, World Cup Concerns
The Guadalajara Airport confirmed it remained operational, protected by National Guard and SEDENA troops, and reported no flight cancellations of its own — though the airport experienced a panic event captured on social media that the operator acknowledged as "hysteria among passengers." The situation carries added urgency because Guadalajara is scheduled to host four FIFA World Cup matches in June 2026, raising serious questions about security infrastructure ahead of one of the world's largest sporting events.
What's Happening in Mexico Right Now: What Comes Next
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously warned that targeting cartel kingpins can fracture criminal organizations into rival factions and ignite new cycles of violence. Over the past year, she has faced intensifying pressure from President Donald Trump, who has threatened military intervention and higher tariffs if Mexico fails to demonstrate concrete gains against drug trafficking. With El Mencho now dead and CJNG leaderless for the first time in its history, authorities on both sides of the border are bracing for a prolonged and dangerous power struggle inside one of the world's most violent criminal organizations. What is happening in Mexico today is the opening chapter — not the final one.
