American Embassy in Mexico Urges Citizens to Shelter in Place Amid Unrest Following Death of Cartel Boss

The American government is warning citizens traveling in Mexico to shelter in place after unrest broke out on Sunday following the killing of a cartel boss in Jalisco, Mexico. The violence seen on Sunday came just hours after the Mexican military attempted to arrest the cartel leader, who was subsequently killed during an exchange of gunfire. On Sunday, the Mexican government announced that it had conducted an operation in Jalisco, a state on the western coast of the country home to the popular tourist city of Puerto Vallarta. The attempt to arrest the leader of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — also known as “El Mencho” — was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to a firefight between members of the Mexican military and the cartel. In a press release on Sunday, the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense announced that Cervantes along with six other alleged cartel members were killed during a firefight. Two other alleged cartel members were arrested. “During this operation, Mexican military personnel were attacked, and in defense of their physical integrity, they repelled the aggression,” the government said Sunday.In its statement, the government announced that “complementary information was provided by U.S. authorities within the framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the United States.”“At this time, elements of the Mexican National Guard and Mexican Army troops from the center of the country and states neighboring Jalisco are mobilizing to reinforce the security of this state,” the government said. Shortly after news of Cervantes’ death became public, alleged gang members began to launch sporadic attacks in Jalisco and other states, including firing guns and lighting cars on fire. Mexico’s embassy in Washington, D.C. said in a statement that there is no evidence of civilians being targeted by the cartel. In response to the unrest, America’s embassy in Mexico is warning American citizens to take precautions in order to protect themselves and several American airlines flying to the region have cancelled their flights. The American embassy says that the security alert is effective for the entirety of the states of Jalisco and Tamaulipas, as well as parts of the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. The embassy recommends that citizens currently in those designated states avoid areas near police activity, seek shelter, and keep family and friends updated about their locations. One American who is in Jalisco, Republican political consultant Mike Madrid, has been posting photos and videos on X throughout the day on Sunday, showing what Puerto Vallarta looks like on the ground. One video Mr. Madrid shared of the city’s skyline shows several plumes of black smoke rising among the buildings, indicating that cars are being burned across the city. The deputy secretary of state, Christopher Landau, says he is monitoring the situation in Mexico as it unfolds. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico during President Trump’s first term. “I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern. It’s not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve,” Mr. Landau wrote in a statement on X.

American Embassy in Mexico Urges Citizens to Shelter in Place Amid Unrest Following Death of Cartel Boss

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