What Is Happening in Mexico Right Now: El Mencho Killed, Cartel Violence Erupts Nationwide
Mexico is navigating one of the most violent and consequential weeks in its recent history. The killing of the country's most wanted drug cartel leader has triggered a nationwide wave of cartel retaliation, leaving dozens dead, tourists stranded, and an entire nation on edge.
El Mencho Killed in Military Operation — What Happened
Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed during a high-stakes military operation in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, on February 22. The retaliation was instantaneous. As news of the operation spread, a coordinated wave of violence exploded through the country, reaching at least 20 of Mexico's 32 states.
In the days immediately preceding the operation, military intelligence tracked the movements of a trusted associate connected to a romantic partner of Oseguera. Security forces confirmed his presence at a secluded rural property and initiated the raid on February 22, involving ground forces, aviation support, and special operations units.
Death Toll and Cartel Retaliation Across Mexico
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed that at least 74 people were killed in total — including 25 National Guard officers — in the operation and the subsequent wave of cartel violence. Around 30 cartel members were also killed in Jalisco and four in Michoacán.
Security forces identified approximately 250 roadblocks nationwide. Cartel members erected flaming blockades using hijacked cargo trucks, buses, and private vehicles set on fire to obstruct traffic. Incidents were reported in Jalisco and 19 other states, including Michoacán, Guanajuato, Colima, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Sinaloa.
Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta Paralyzed
Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara — which will host several matches in the upcoming FIFA World Cup — was turned into a ghost town on Sunday night as civilians hunkered down. Videos circulating on social media showed people sprinting through the Guadalajara airport in panic, and smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport reported that all international operations and the majority of domestic flights were cancelled following the outbreak of violence, with airlines citing security concerns and uncertainty regarding access routes to the airport. More than 1,000 visitors were stranded overnight at the Guadalajara Zoo.
U.S. and International Response — Travel Warnings
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City sent out a security alert telling U.S. citizens in multiple states — including Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León — to shelter in place. The foreign ministries of Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Indonesia issued similar alerts. The U.S. State Department set up a 24/7 crisis hotline to support Americans impacted by the unrest.
The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation and applauded Mexico's army. President Sheinbaum stressed that only Mexican forces were involved in the operation itself: "There was no participation in the operation by U.S. forces. What we have is a lot of exchange of information provided by the U.S. government, but the entire operation, from its planning stage, is the responsibility of federal forces."
Is Mexico Safe Now? The Road to Stabilization
The Embassy of Mexico in the United States said federal and state authorities were working to normalize conditions, reopening transit corridors and restoring public services following targeted operations. Mexico says the security situation has now stabilized in Jalisco, describing the raid as part of "a broader national effort that has produced a sustained decrease in violence across Mexico in recent months."
The State Department's travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect at a heightened level of caution, with certain Mexican states classified as Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" or Level 4 "Do Not Travel," depending on local conditions. Hundreds of Americans remain stranded in Mexico following the violence.
What Comes Next for Mexico's Cartels After El Mencho
Analysts warn that El Mencho's killing could unleash a prolonged wave of violence across Mexico. "There is no obvious successor to Oseguera," one analyst noted, adding that the timing is particularly sensitive with Mexico set to host the FIFA World Cup, and Guadalajara serving as a host city.
Analysts outlined the worst-case scenario: different regional bosses within the cartel could begin disputing for power, eventually leading to a civil war between different factions — a pattern seen repeatedly after the fall of other major cartel leaders. "If that happens, you could see record levels of homicide in Mexico in the months to come," one security analyst warned.
