American Tourists Stranded in Mexico Await the All-Clear To Leave After Cartel Leader’s Death

American vacationers are hunkering down to wait out the mayhem in Mexico as authorities reassert control at Puerto Vallarta and other sunny resort destinations following a wave of cartel-related violence in response to the killing of the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”Mexico’s Security Cabinet announced late Sunday that most roadblocks have been cleared and main roads have reopened after the violent retaliations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that activities in many areas of the country are proceeding as usual, though schools in various states preemptively canceled classes Monday for safety reasons.The military operation that ended El Mencho’s reign sparked widespread unrest across multiple Mexican states, leaving tourists trapped in hotels and airports as chaos erupted in the streets. Airlines including Air Canada, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and American Airlines suspended flights to and from the region.The U.S. embassy and consulates in Mexico urged American citizens to shelter in place amid “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.” American government staff in affected locations were instructed to work from home, with the embassy advising U.S. citizens to do the same.One American who said he was located just outside the state of Jalisco described the situation in a reddit post, saying, “The whole town is shut down — no restaurants, no stores, no gas, nothing.”He said he was supposed to leave his Airbnb on Tuesday, and the “hosts say there are more guests coming so we cannot extend our stay. … But this shelter-in-place order is coming DIRECTLY from the US and Mexican governments… what can we do??” He updated his post later to say the consulate reached out to AirBnB, which issued a coupon to stay at a nearby spot for a few more days.The unrest reached into cities across Jalisco, including Chapala and Guadalajara as well as Baja California, Quintana Roo, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. Toll road operations in multiple states were temporarily suspended due to blockades affecting motorists as suspected cartel members set vehicles ablaze.Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, which last year hosted 1.2 million American tourists drawn to its turquoise waters and natural attractions, is Ground Zero for the cartel’s retaliation tactics. One American tourist told Fox News Digital that this was the first trip he and his wife had taken without their 4-year-old son. The situation has become so concerning that he called home with instructions about what to do in case they die.“This is the first time we’ve ever been away from him. My wife was saying, ‘We’re never leaving him again,'” he said. “I had to call my mom today and, you know, just tell her, ‘Look, here’s where my will is. We just created this. I don’t want you to panic, but I may need you to stay a couple days extra with my son.'”Dallas resident Adryan Moorefield, who was scheduled to fly home Sunday, told CNN he now faces an extended stay in the city. “We’ve been to PV before and thought that this would be a no-brainer place to come and do a quick, easy beach vacation,” he said, adding that the violence had been a “complete shocker.”

American Tourists Stranded in Mexico Await the All-Clear To Leave After Cartel Leader’s Death

American Tourists Stranded in Mexico Await the All-Clear To Leave After Cartel Leader’s Death

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