What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now: El Mencho Killed, CJNG Cartel Violence Erupts Across 20 States

Mexico is waking up Monday, February 23, 2026 ET, in a state of unprecedented national crisis. What is happening in Mexico right now stems from a single seismic event: the Sunday military killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes — the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the most powerful drug trafficker in Mexico — which triggered one of the most violent cartel retaliations in the country's modern history.

El Mencho Killed: How the Military Operation Unfolded

The Mexican Army launched a targeted operation Sunday morning in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco — a known CJNG stronghold located roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara. Mexico's Defense Ministry confirmed that Special Forces, working alongside the National Guard, the Mexican Air Force, and intelligence personnel from the Attorney General's Office, deployed multiple aircraft and ground units to capture Oseguera Cervantes after intelligence reports confirmed he was present in the area.

The raid turned into a firefight. Seven CJNG members were killed in total, including El Mencho himself. Three members of the armed forces were wounded. Two additional cartel figures were arrested, and authorities seized armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and other heavy tactical equipment. Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was wounded during the operation and died while being airlifted to Mexico City for treatment. The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support for the operation as part of ongoing bilateral coordination targeting drug trafficking networks.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million USD for information leading to El Mencho's arrest. He had been indicted multiple times in U.S. federal court since 2017 and was considered by the DEA to be as powerful as Sinaloa cartel leaders — with CJNG operating across all 50 U.S. states.

What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now: The Wave of Cartel Violence

The retaliation by CJNG was immediate and nationwide. Within hours of the operation, cartel members began torching buses and businesses, erecting burning roadblocks, and clashing with security forces across the country. Mexico's Security Cabinet reported more than 250 blockades across 20 Mexican states at the peak of the unrest, with violence spreading to Aguascalientes, Colima, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, and Nuevo León — among others.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro activated a Code Red state of emergency, suspended public transportation statewide, and urged all residents to remain in their homes. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and the capital of Jalisco, was turned into a ghost town Sunday night as civilians hunkered down and stores shuttered.

As of Monday morning ET, most roadblocks have been cleared. Public transport service is resuming in Jalisco and schools remain closed for Monday as a precautionary measure. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for calm, stating that "in the vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding with complete normality."

Puerto Vallarta in Crisis: Tourists Stranded, Flights Canceled

The resort city of Puerto Vallarta — which welcomed 1.23 million U.S. tourists last year alone — was among the hardest-hit areas. Thick columns of black smoke rose over the bay as more than 10 vehicles were set ablaze at various points across the city. Hotels instructed guests to remain indoors. Roads were blocked. Public transport ceased.

Puerto Vallarta International Airport suspended all international operations and the majority of domestic flights. Airlines that canceled Puerto Vallarta service include United, Southwest, Delta, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines. At least one American Airlines aircraft turned around mid-flight as the situation escalated on the ground. American Airlines issued travel waivers for passengers with upcoming flights to or through Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.

A Texas man who made it onto what he believes was the last commercial flight out described the tarmac scene as resembling the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. "It was clearly an evacuation," he said. "It was chaotic, it was very stressful. People didn't know if they were going to get out."

US and Canada Issue Emergency Shelter-in-Place Orders

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City instructed American citizens in Jalisco — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara — as well as in Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León to shelter in place until further notice. The State Department urged all U.S. nationals in affected areas to avoid crowds, minimize unnecessary movements, monitor local media, and keep family informed of their location.

Canada's Global Affairs issued a parallel advisory, warning that the security situation "could deteriorate rapidly" across Mexico and urging Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to numerous Mexican states. Thousands of Canadian tourists are stranded.

Emergency contacts for U.S. citizens in Mexico:

What Comes Next: A Dangerous CJNG Power Vacuum

With El Mencho dead and CJNG leaderless for the first time in its history, analysts are warning of a prolonged and dangerous power struggle within the cartel. His brother is in a U.S. prison. His son, El Menchito, is also imprisoned. His daughter is incarcerated as well. That leaves no obvious heir — and a vacuum that regional cartel bosses are expected to fight to fill. When El Chapo was taken down, the Sinaloa cartel fractured into warring factions. Security analysts say the same pattern could now unfold inside CJNG.

The timing carries enormous additional stakes. Guadalajara — the capital of Jalisco — is scheduled to host four FIFA World Cup matches in June 2026, including a home match for Mexico. What is happening in Mexico right now is not just a domestic security crisis — it is a test of whether the country can stabilize fast enough to host one of the world's largest sporting events just four months away.