Coast Guard crews and Federal Agents have been kept busy this month by human smugglers determined to bring illegal aliens to America’s shores. On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos intercepted a dangerously overloaded small boat off the coast of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, with 21 illegal aliens aboard.

18 men and two women claimed to be from the Dominican Republic, while two men aboard said they were Haitians. One other person was found to have an active Puerto Rico Police arrest warrant and was taken into custody.

The illegal aliens were transferred to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel on Monday, April 20, 2026.

But the Coast Guard and Federal Officers have been even busier cracking down on Human Smuggling off the California Coast. On Monday, April 20, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne stopped a cabin cruiser off San Clemente Island with 18 illegal aliens, all from Mexico, aboard.

On April 18, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch intercepted a small “panga” boat Southwest of Point Loma Near San Nicolas Island, overloaded with 29 illegal aliens, all from Mexico, aboard.

On Friday, April 17, 2026, Federal Agents aboard US Customs & Border Protection “Coastal Interceptor Vessels” converged on yet another suspicious boat near San Clemente Island. Their suspicions were confirmed when the “fishing party” aboard the boat was found to be 13 illegal aliens instead: 7 adult males, 5 adult females, and 1 accompanied juvenile female.

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal intercepted a boat near Point Loma, California, that watchstanders at the Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego had identified as suspicious, and found three illegal aliens (all from Mexico) aboard.

The Daily Caller, citing US Customs & Border Protection sources, reports that some of the aliens caught trying to illegally enter California this month “had rap sheets that included DUI, felony hit-and-run, making false police reports, drug possession, active warrants for resisting arrest, trespassing, burglary, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, drug trafficking, aggravated assault with a weapon, and domestic violence.”

In response to all of this human smuggling activity, the US government is deploying surveillance buoy powered by artificial intelligence, like the one pictured above, in waters along the US border with Mexico off the California coast.

These “PowerBouys” (outfitted with solar panels and wind generators) contain cameras and other surveillance devices to alert the Coast Guard and Customs & Border Protection to human smuggling boats approaching and entering US waters.

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Jack Beavers

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Luis Miguel Garduño, who, as recently as late 2025, served as a Director of Public Services in the Mexican City of Matamoros (across the Rio Grande from Brownsville), was arrested on Easter Sunday (April 5, 2026), while attempting to smuggle almost 11 kilos of cocaine through a South Texas Border Patrol Checkpoint.

After a Border Patrol dog alerted agents at the Javier Vega, Jr. Checkpoint on US Highway 77 in Sarita, Texas, a search of the SUV he was driving revealed a hidden compartment beneath the third row of seats.

Inside, agents found ten bundles containing 10.92 kilograms of cocaine.

According to a criminal complaint, Garduño told Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agents that “he was directed to do the trip because of a debt that he owes (and when) asked if he knew what was in the vehicle … he advised that he believes it was drugs, but did not know what type.”

Garduño is facing federal charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

The case is raising eyebrows because of an arrest involving another Mexican official from the same area last year. On May 2, 2025, US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped a Mexican couple attempting to drive across the Brownsville-Matamoros International Bridge into Mexico for a random search.

The Mexico City newspaper "El Universal" identified the woman involved in the case as an employee of the Attorney General's Office of the Mexican State of Tamaulipas.

The CBP Officers found bundles of US dollars (totaling $148,610) hidden inside the couple’s car. The driver was found to be carrying another $5,485 in cash. Officers found the woman was carrying even more money: $30,000 - again, all cash.

(It is a federal offense not to declare currency totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency were legitimate.)

In all, US Federal Agents seized $184,095.

Meanwhile, the ex-Matamoros city official arrested for smuggling cocaine earlier this month remains jailed in Corpus Christi awaiting trial.

How large a problem is cartel corruption of government officials along the Mexican border?

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Jack Beavers

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Some of the Trump administration’s controversial new warehouse immigration detention centers are getting scaled back and postponed as states and cities fight back, and new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin reviews actions taken by his ousted predecessor, Kristi Noem.

Some states and cities have seen more communication and compromise as Mullin takes over, and the Department of Homeland Security faces a continued funding shutdown that has reached 60 days.

That includes discussions about a proposed Arizona detention center, where DHS agreed to scale back the number of prisoners by two-thirds and pay a city for lost tax revenue, and a proposed center in Maryland with a similar offer from the department. A lawsuit is also holding up work on that detention center. And in Georgia, a small city cut off the water supply to a proposed immigrant holding site.

A plan to house up to 1,500 immigrants in Surprise, Arizona, starting as soon as May, was scaled back to 542 detainees starting in October at the earliest, and DHS agreed to pay the city $300,000 a year for lost property taxes. The department may also offer more to help cover any police costs after negotiations with DHS under Mullin.

“With the new leadership, there’s been a lot of communication,” Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor told a local radio show April 15, a contrast to the “very frustrating” experience of how the city learned from news reports in January that DHS had purchased a 418,000-square-foot distribution center for $70 million.

“We do have a different leadership style,” Mullin said in a CNBC interview April 16, comparing himself to Noem. “We want to make sure people understand that we’re here working for the people, not against you.”

In Maryland, the new DHS administration has also offered a scale-back from 1,500 detainees to 542, in a Williamsport warehouse bought for $102 million in January. An April 15 court order keeps most work at the center paused as the state continues a lawsuit claiming “impacts on the environmental, economic, and public health and safety interests of the state.”

In Arizona, dozens of Democratic state lawmakers sent a letter in April asking the city of Surprise to “stop the facility from opening at all costs,” but Mayor Sartor has said he doesn’t see a legal basis for a lawsuit. The mayor’s office is nonpartisan, but Republicans predominate among registered voters in the city by almost 2-1 over Democrats.

Communities across the country are facing the results of a massive detention expansion fueled in large part by the record $45 billion approved for increased immigration detention by Congress last summer.

Other state and local action on the plan to repurpose warehouses for detention centers includes a Kansas City, Missouri, ban on nonmunicipal detention facilities passed in January, and developers halted the sale of a south Kansas City warehouse in February.

The owners of an Indiana warehouse sent a letter stating they weren’t in active negotiations for the site, which had been reported as a potential detention center and had drawn local opposition from the town of Merrillville. Democratic lawmakers in Florida opposed plans for a warehouse detention center near Orlando in February, while some Republican lawmakers supported it.

In Georgia, the city of Social Circle cut off water and sewer service for a $128.6 million warehouse proposed to hold 10,000 detainees, saying the town of 5,000 people lacked the capacity to serve it.

“The city’s infrastructure cannot accommodate this level of demand,” according to a February statement from the city, despite a “certainly creative” solution suggested by DHS to fill a water-supply cistern at times of low demand.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

Do you support the conversion of warehouses into “immigration detention facilities”?

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The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa offloaded 3,825 pounds of cocaine worth more than $28.7 million on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Miami. The seized contraband resulted from two interdictions of drug-smuggling boats in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean through “Operation Pacific Viper.”

Operation Pacific Viper is a counter-drug operation in the Eastern Pacific, a primary corridor for narcotics smuggling from Central and South America. The Coast Guard has surged cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams to interdict, seize, and disrupt the flow of cocaine and other illicit drugs

Recent operations highlighted the impact of “Operation Pacific Viper”, including record-setting interdictions. In February, the Coast Guard marked a significant achievement by seizing 200,000 pounds of cocaine, underscoring the sustained effectiveness of Operation Pacific Viper. Since launching this operation in early August, the Coast Guard has seized over 215,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended 160 suspected narco-traffickers.

Through “Operation Pacific Viper, the US Coast Guard targets Mexican, Central & South American Cartels, cutting off drug and human smugglers before they reach the US West Coast.” 80% of interdictions of U.S.-bound drugs occur at sea.

Do you think “Operation Pacific Viper” is inflicting heavy damage to cartel cocaine smuggling operations?

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Jack Beavers

Todd Lyons’ career at US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) was on an upward trajectory from the time he joined the agency as an Immigration Enforcement Agent in Dallas in 2007 through March 9, 2025, when he was named Acting Director of the agency by President Trump.

Unfortunately (for him), his career ascent coincided with Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski, and Kristi Noem’s co-option of his agency.

Although President Trump promised to arrest “the worst of the worst” during the campaign, once in office, Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and (then) Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and her “Chief of Staff” Corey Lewandowski, demanded that ICE should instead generate arrests of 3,000 people a day, no matter if they had no criminal records (other than immigration violations) with controversial Border Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino named as “Commander at Large” of their enforcement efforts.

A series of well-publicized raids directed against “blue” (Democratic) cities followed, resulting in the controversial shooting deaths of ICE protestors Rene Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

As a result, immigration (which had once been one of President Trump’s strengths in national polls) quickly shifted to a liability.

ICE Director Lyons efforts to rein in Bovino resulted in an email from Bovino stating, "Mr. Lyons said he was in charge, and I corrected him, saying I report to Corey Lewandowski."

Miller’s 10 AM daily conference calls with ICE officials are famous for destroying morale among ICE leaders:

“Miller came in there and eviscerated everyone. ‘You guys aren’t doing a good job. You’re horrible leaders.’

“Stephen Miller wants everybody arrested. ‘Why aren’t you at Home Depot? Why aren’t you at 7-Eleven?’” Forbes News reported the official recited.

As a result, in March 2026, Politico reported that Lyons was hospitalized in late 2025/early 2026 due to stress, with sources attributing this to the aggressive demands from Miller.

Which brings us where we are today. ICE Director Lyons will resign on May 31, 2026. He says he wants to spend more time with his family, particularly his sons.

Senator Markwayne Mullin is now the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, Corey Lewandowski, and Gregory Bovino are gone (and soon, Todd Lyons will be as well). Stephen Miller remains in his position, free to continue to press his aggressive enforcement agenda.

However, The Wall Street Journal reported last month that President Trump wants to “lower the profile of his mass deportation effort.”

They said he wants voters to think the targets of these deportations are “bad guys,” not noncriminal undocumented residents. He wants less visibility for ICE raids in cities, fewer public confrontations with local officials, and less public talk about “mass deportations,” which, he now grasps, are hideously unpopular.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles now sees deportations as a liability for the midterms, per the report. If Trump sides with her on politics, it would be a sign of political panic and a rebuke to Miller, but we appear to be somewhere in between those two extremes at the moment.

However, this is decided, ICE Director Todd Lyons isn’t sticking around to see how it plays out.

Do you support Stephen Miller’s demands for 3,000 daily immigration arrests or Susie Wiles’ focus on migrants with previous criminal arrests?

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Jack Beavers

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The US government says a casino operating just across the border from Laredo and advertises in the US to draw in Americans is one of two casinos in Tamaulipas state “operated by Cartel del Noreste (CDN), one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations.”

“Casino Centenario,” located just two miles across the border from Laredo, and “Diamante Casino” in Tampico, Mexico, have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, which prohibits transactions (like bets) between the casinos & U.S. citizens.

The Nuevo Laredo casino regularly advertises in the U.S. to lure American gamblers to make the short drive across the border to place bets there. It buys space on US billboards and has participated in the “Business Expo Laredo” to drum up traffic from Texas.

“Casino Centenario is utilized by CDN as a stash house for fentanyl pills and cocaine, as well as a vehicle to launder illicit proceeds and integrate them into the legitimate financial system through its gaming operations. CDN also uses the backrooms of Casino Centenario to torture and intimidate alleged enemies of the cartel. Many CDN members also frequent Casino Centenario.” -US Treasury Dept. News Release

The Treasury Department says “CDN, previously known as Los Zetas, was identified by the United States as a specially designated foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated CDN as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).”

“CDN is primarily based in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. For decades, CDN has been involved in the trafficking of narcotics and other illicit drugs, including fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. CDN is involved in violent criminal activity on both sides of the border, including the kidnapping and killing of individuals that threaten their criminal enterprise on the southern border. With a stronghold in Nuevo Laredo, CDN uses its terror-fueled influence in the region to control drug trafficking and human smuggling routes, bribe politicians and journalists, and extort local businesses and shipments flowing to and from the United States at the busiest inland point of entry for trade in the United States.” -US Treasury Department News Release

The sanctions preventing U.S. citizens from transacting with the Nuevo Laredo casino also apply to “Diamante Casino,” 300 miles further south of the border.

Three Mexican citizens (including one now in US custody) have also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department.

UPDATE: The Mexican Government has since announced that they have closed the Nuevo Laredo & Tampico casinos that the US Treasury Department linked to the CDN:

This isn’t the first time the US has targeted Mexican Casinos with suspected ties to a Mexican cartel. Last year, the US government issued sanctions against ten other casinos in four Mexican states, accused of money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel.

Would you visit a casino in Mexico?

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Jack Beavers

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Cartel human smugglers continue to use semi trucks and trailers to smuggle illegal aliens across the U.S. border despite numerous deadly or near-deadly results. The latest incident was reported by Border Patrol Agents on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at a South Texas checkpoint.

A K9 alerted the agents to the presence of 26 illegal aliens locked inside the trailer of a semi truck attempting to pass through the Falfurrias checkpoint on US Highway 281. Despite no ventilation (and no way out), agents report that those trapped inside the trailer were in good condition. The truck driver - a US citizen - is facing federal charges.

There is no shortage of examples of how this could have turned out badly.

On Monday, March 23, 2026, Mexican authorities narrowly prevented a mass-casualty incident involving migrants from Central and South America being smuggled to the US Border from occurring in the state of Veracruz.

Officers who forced the locks open on the trailer a smuggler had locked them inside were stunned to discover 229 people - ranging in age from elderly to young children - inside. Some had to be treated by emergency medical personnel for dehydration.

Other human smuggling schemes from Mexico into the United States by semi trucks have ended with deadly results.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Daniel Zavala Ramos pleaded guilty in a Laredo, Texas, federal court to conspiring to smuggle a semi-trailer filled with migrants to the US that crashed in Chiapas, Mexico, on December 9, 2021, killing more than 50 and injuring over 100 more. He faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

This is far from an isolated incident.

In 2022, 53 migrants were found dead in and around a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas. Their deaths were caused by heat exposure and asphyxiation during the searing South Texas summer heat.

A similar incident occurred in San Antonio on July 23, 2017, when 39 migrants were found in a tractor-trailer in a parking lot. Ten of them died, and 29 were injured.

But for many human smugglers, the dangers of deadly outcomes are overcome by greed, because the cartels can pay per migrant to transport loads of illegal aliens into the U.S. Last month, for example, Laredo Border Patrol Agents discovered nine illegal aliens inside a semi-truck, some locked inside tool compartments:

The Border Patrol says the driver already had a warrant for failure to appear in court to answer an earlier alien smuggling charge and now faces a felony alien smuggling charge after his second arrest.

Also, last month, US Border Patrol Agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector of South Texas reported discovering yet another group of 29 illegal aliens locked inside a trailer driven by another cartel human smuggler.

Should federal laws require stiffer sentences to deter this dangerous method of human smuggling into the US from Mexico?

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The US military’s Joint Task Force–Southern Border (JTF-SB) has expanded detection and monitoring, improved data sharing, and enabled its U.S. law enforcement partners to increase apprehension rates along the 1,954 miles of U.S.-Mexico border to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) there.

Key Task Force accomplishments include:

• JTF-SB has assisted DHS in achieving historically low levels of individuals attempting to illegally cross our southern border.

• Approximately 22,000 enhanced detection and monitoring missions were conducted, enabling greater awareness of illegal crossings from Mexico into the United States. Of these, almost 3,000 were joint patrols alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, and over 800 were mirrored patrols on both sides of the southern border with CBP and the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense.

• More than 84,000 security site missions were conducted, providing continuous detection and monitoring across key areas of the southern border. These missions leveraged advanced sensor‑borne technology, including fixed and mobile ground sensors and long‑range systems, to deliver greater situational awareness.

• Aviation members have executed nearly 1,600 aerial observation flight missions and 220 unmanned aerial missions, monitoring areas of interest and providing overwatch for personnel on the ground.

  

• Nearly 6,000 signs and 2,000 buoys have been installed along 656 miles of the southern border to clearly demarcate the five recently created National Defense Areas.

• Over 51,000 rolls of concertina wire have been placed in key areas at the direction of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These border barriers are the largest in U.S. history, and deter and deny illegal crossings.

  

  As the Joint Task Force–Southern Border enters its second year, the task force is focused on further strengthening security along the US Southern Border with Mexico:

  “Our mission continues, and our commitment is unwavering. We will keep evolving, supporting our partners and protecting the American people.” Major General David Gardner, Task Force Commander

  Were you aware of this Task Force before you read this story?

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The Coast Guard has been kept busy by a steady stream of migrants being brought illegally by cartel human smugglers into US waters since March. More than 120 of them have been apprehended before they could reach US shores.

Most of this illegal activity has occurred off the West Coast in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. Here’s a rundown of these smuggling attempts as reported by the US Coast Guard :

• Friday, March 27, 2026:

15 illegal aliens (from Mexico) were apprehended 16 miles offshore of San Diego aboard a 30-foot cabin cruiser whose captain tried, but failed, to outrun a Coast Guard cutter at 4:09 AM.

• Thursday, March 26, 2026:

6 illegal aliens (from Mexico) aboard two boats were intercepted by the crew of a Coast Guard cutter shortly after they illegally crossed into US waters. One of the vessels attempted to return to Mexico, but the Coast Guard shot out its engines at 4:38 PM.

• Wednesday, March 25, 2026:

8 illegal aliens (from Mexico) were apprehended by the US Coast Guard, who stopped the boat they were aboard three miles off San Diego at 8:04 AM.

12 more illegal aliens (from Mexico) were intercepted off San Diego by the US Coast Guard, who had to open fire on the boat’s engines before stopping it at 6:09 AM.

• Sunday, March 15, 2026:

11 illegal aliens (from Mexico) were taken into custody by the US Coast Guard 7 miles west of Imperial Beach, California, after the boat they were aboard was detected illegally entering US waters from Mexico at 12:57 PM.

• Sunday, March 1, 2026:

14 illegal aliens (from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico) were interdicted aboard a small “panga” boat by the US Coast Guard 10 miles southwest of Point Loma, San Diego, around midnight.

66 aliens were taken into custody by the US Coast Guard during those six interrupted human smuggling runs in March, 2026. (NOTE: These recent sea smuggling runs off California continue a trend we last reported on early last month).

And, while the cartels tend to keep their “loads” of illegal aliens paying to be smuggled into the US via the Pacific Ocean off California relatively small, it’s a different story for the human smugglers in the US waters of the Caribbean Sea off Puerto Rico.

On March 1, 2026, the US Coast Guard announced it apprehended 60 illegal aliens from Haiti and the Dominican Republic aboard a human smuggler’s “makeshift” boat in Mona Passage waters northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. After taking control of the smuggling boat, the Coast Guard transferred the aliens to the Dominican Republic Navy for return to their countries.

“To those thinking of taking part in an unlawful migration voyage, don’t take to the sea! These voyages most often involve unseaworthy, grossly overloaded, makeshift vessels with no lifesaving equipment. They are highly unstable and could capsize without warning, killing everyone onboard.” Matthew Romano, Commander, US Coast Guard Sector San Juan

Are you surprised by the extent of human smuggling in US waters?

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Jack Beavers

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Border security has never been tighter along our international boundary with Mexico, yet there’s plenty of evidence that smugglers are still staying very busy moving their illegal goods - and illegal aliens - into the United States. Want proof?

What follows are some snapshots of recent smuggling schemes US authorities have thwarted in recent days. As you review these, remember that US authorities and independent experts are generally in agreement that the amount of smuggled goods law enforcement seizes amounts to a single-digit percentage of what is coming across the border:

On Thursday, April 2, 2026, US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) announced that its officers discovered 862 packages containing 1,984 lbs of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of blackberries crossing an international bridge between Pharr, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico.

On Monday, March 30, 2026, CBP Officers on a Nogales, Arizona, International Bridge arrested a smuggler entering the US from Sonora, Mexico, with packages of 23,000 Fentanyl pills strapped to their legs.

On Sunday, March 29, 2026, the CBP announced its officers had confiscated 140 pounds of meth hidden in bundles inside a hidden tailgate compartment of a smuggler’s pick-up truck being driven into San Ysidro, California, from Tijuana, Mexico.

Two days earlier, on Friday, March 27, 2026, the US Border Patrol reported that its agents seized 50 tightly wrapped packages containing more than 129 pounds of cocaine inside the car trunk of a smuggler whose car was pulled over on I-5 near their Oceanside, California, checkpoint. That checkpoint is located 55 miles north of the border with Mexico.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the CBP announced that one of its K9s made a chilling discovery inside an ice cream machine being driven from Mexico into Laredo, Texas. The machine was filled not with ice cream, but almost 27 pounds of meth. The CBP dog’s keen nose froze a smuggler in his tracks.

Human smugglers are also staying busy along the US-Mexico border. On Sunday, March 1, 2026, the US Coast Guard announced it intercepted a small boat off San Diego, California, with 14 illegal aliens aboard who had crossed into US waters from Mexico.

More recently, the US Border Patrol announced on Thursday, April 2, 2026, that its agents apprehended a “known human smuggler” who was guiding seven illegal aliens by foot near the border south of its Sierra Blanca checkpoint in the Big Bend Border Patrol sector of West Texas.

And, as proof that smugglers will bring anything into the US from Mexico to make a buck, comes word that on Thursday, March 5, 2026, CBP officers on Laredo’s World Trade Bridge discovered that a truck driver was hauling some undeclared, illegal, slithering cargo: bags containing 39 live pythons! The Fish and Wildlife Service and Homeland Security Investigations are following up on this case.

And finally, late last month, a San Diego, California, man was sentenced to three months in prison for smuggling protected parrots and parakeets into the United States without the required quarantine designed to prevent the spread of diseases (including bird flu).

Ricardo Alonzo was found guilty of bringing ten Burrowing Parakeets, five Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrots, and two Red-Lored Amazon Parrots into the US via the San Ysidro, California border crossing.

Alonzo likely hoped he’d pass unnoticed through the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere (processing an average of 70,000 northbound vehicle passengers and 20,000 northbound pedestrians per day), but CBP officers found the birds hidden under the back seat of his car.

Three of the seventeen birds he brought into the US died during the smuggling attempt. The parakeets and parrots were juvenile birds of differing ages, likely between one week and a few months old. The birds are protected species.

The Burrowing Parakeets are native to Chile and Argentina, while the Yellow-Crowned Amazon Parrots and Red-Lored Amazon Parrots are native to Mexico, the West Indies, and northern South America.

Should more be done to prevent illegal drug, human, and animal smuggling into the US?

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Jack Beavers

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Border Patrol Agents in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas may have prevented a tragedy from occurring in recent days. While inspecting an 18-wheeler, a K9 alerted them that something was amiss inside a locked trailer.

When they forced the trailer doors open, they found 26 illegal aliens inside. The aliens were taken into custody along with the U.S. citizen driving the truck. While none of the aliens needed medical attention, this is an incredibly dangerous form of human smuggling.

A week ago, Mexican authorities discovered 229 migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Ecuador - ranging in age from elderly to young children - locked inside a stolen trailer in Xelapa, Veracruz. Some had to be treated by emergency medical personnel for dehydration.

Employees of an impound lot where the trailer had been towed told the Associated Press that “hours after arriving at the lot, workers began to hear shouting and banging coming from inside” the trailer.

There have been many such human smuggling schemes involving tractor-trailer loads of migrants through Mexico into the U.S. in recent years, some with fatal results.

Are you surprised to learn that human smugglers often risk the lives of the migrants they are smuggling by locking them inside trailers?

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Jack Beavers

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Snarled airport lines began clearing on Monday as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officers began receiving back pay amidst an ongoing congressional battle that has left the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without funding for more than forty days. President Donald Trump on Friday issued an Executive Order to pay the TSA employees, citing a “national security … emergency.”

“America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.” -President Donald Trump

The Associated Press reported that “what was a four-hour checkpoint line at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport turned into a wait of 10 minutes or less. In previous trouble spots such as Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington International Airport, travelers were moving smoothly to their flights.”

Congress left for a two-week recess on Friday, March 27, 2026, without solving the funding impasse. The House of Representatives and the Senate are expected to reconvene around April 13, 2026.

What do you think of Congress leaving for Easter Break before fully funding the Department of Homeland Security?

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Jack Beavers

Mexican authorities narrowly prevented a mass-casualty incident involving migrants from Central and South America being smuggled to the US Border from occurring on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The migrants were locked in a stolen semi-trailer recovered by Mexican police in the state of Veracruz and then driven to a police impound lot in the city of Xelapa. Employees there told the Associated Press that “hours after arriving at the lot, workers began to hear shouting and banging coming from inside” the trailer.

Officers who forced the locks open were stunned to discover 229 people - ranging in age from elderly to young children - inside the trailer. Some had to be treated by emergency medical personnel for dehydration. Authorities say they are all expected to recover.

Five buses transferred the migrants to a government shelter. Mexican authorities say they are working with the governments of Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Ecuador to return them to their homelands.

The Associated Press has reported many such human smuggling schemes involving tractor-trailer loads of migrants through Mexico into the U.S. in recent years, some with fatal results.

H/T: to US Border News subscriber Sheila Dean for giving us a heads-up about this story! We welcome story suggestions from our readers.

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Some of the Department of Homeland Security’s strongest supporters along the border with Mexico are expressing relief that President Trump has ordered (now ex) DHS Secretary Kristi Noem “to take a ride out into the sunset,” to borrow a metaphor from the cowgirl image she liked to project.

Many of her critics on the Texas border share the same reason for wanting her gone, and their identities (and reasons) might surprise you.

At the top of that list is West Texas Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland. He spent decades as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent before becoming the top lawman in one of Texas “reddest” border areas: Terrell County. (He’s also a frequent guest on cable news shows likely to be closely watched in the White House).

Sheriff Cleveland took to x.com not long after President Trump gave Noem the boot to say THIS:

Sheriff Cleveland is no squish when it comes to enforcing border security. He lives it daily along the Rio Grande River. He and his five deputies spend many nights alongside Border Patrol Agents chasing (and catching) small, but annoyingly persistent groups of illegal aliens trying to cross through his sparsely-populated but frontline border county:

But the first words of Sheriff Cleveland’s x.com post criticizing the former DHS Secretary tell the tale of a rupture with the DHS going back for some time, and that has been growing in recent days:

“This may help us with the wall situation in the Big Bend Region…”

DHS bureaucrats in Washington, DC, have long been hell-bent on ramming a physical border wall through Terrell County into the “Big Bend” area, even as the historically (very) conservative, and reliably Republican-majority locals who live there, like Sheriff Cleveland and West Texas border landowners (many whose families go back generations), have tried, so far in vain, to argue there is a better, cheaper, and far less destructive way to block the relatively few illegal crossings known to occur there.

What Sheriff Cleveland (and others like him - who we’ll get to in a moment) want instead is a “smart system” of AI-powered ground sensors and video surveillance towers to detect the small, but persistant illegal crossing attempts they respond to there, instead of a huge “dumb” border wall better suited for a more heavily-trafficked and urbanized area (like the lower Rio Grande Valley) :

This “smart wall” would be coupled with an existing fleet of DHS drones to track the small groups of illegal aliens who cross here and guide law officers to intercept them.

(Sheriff Cleveland explains their capabilities in an x.com post HERE).

The steep walls along the Rio Grande, and the vast (and often deadly) “badlands” above them, make a “Border Wall” here unnecessary, opponents say:

“We’ve got a God-made barrier,” Sheriff Cleveland argues.

And lest you think Sheriff Cleveland is the only person advocating this, 46 Texas lawmakers recently signed a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott to halt the border wall in the area.

Here is what others with a stake in this call for a “Smart Wall” have to say (and they’ve been making a case for years) that few in Washington seem to hear:

“It seems, frankly, ludicrous that anyone would even attempt it,” Betse Esparza, then a Brewster County commissioner and a Republican, told Buzzfeed in 2017. “I don’t see how it’s physically possible to build a wall. We have canyons. We have what people are referring to as a natural wall. I think we’re pretty good.”

Another thing that unites many people in the Big Bend against the Border Wall is that the area is home to two massive State and National Parks. The wall would block rafters and canoeists from the Rio Grande, which is the major reason visitors make the trek to the remote region:

“Many, many people have put their whole careers working out here, preserving and protecting this area,” Marcos Paredes, a retired river ranger, told USA Today in 2017. “In one fell swoop, we stand to undo all of that with a border wall.”

“It’ll ruin this county,” Ronny Dodson, Sheriff of solidly red Brewster County for more than two decades, told NBC News recently. “If it’s a real wall, it will devastate us. We don’t have oil and gas, we have tourism.”

President Trump has named Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Texas’ neighboring state, as Noem’s replacement.

Big Bend Border Wall opponents hope that his familiarity with their state, coupled with a growing rebellion in solidly red counties along the border (whose votes Republicans will need to hang onto a Texas US Senate Seat that may be in play following this week’s primaries), will finally allow their voices to be heard in the Trump White House.

UPDATE: “Our Public Lands & Waters” notes that a DHS map that showed a border wall between Big Bend’s Rio Grande canyons was “Planned,” (see left side of image below) on the day Noem was fired, now shows only “Detection Technology” (The “Smart Wall”) thoughout the entire National Park the day after President Trump fired her (see right side of image below).

Former Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker told the “National Parks Traveler” that this development does NOT mean the Border Wall battle is over:

"The map still shows a wall in much of Big Bend Ranch State Park, which is just as destructive a proposal as in the national park. We remain concerned and vigilant and would like to see a clear public announcement from CBP of their intent and a commitment that it won’t change again, before we will assume this is over." - Bob Krumenaker, former Superintendent, Big Bend National Park

Do you think a “Border Wall” should be built in the Big Bend?

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PS: If you want to learn more about what will be lost if the Big Bend Border Wall goes up, I recommend reading my friend and former co-worker Jim Bob Moore’s beautifully-written piece, “The Border Wall and All Y’all,” over at his Substack, “Texas to the World.”

Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Human Smugglers are keeping the US Coast Guard and other federal agencies busy in the waters off California. In recent days, they have intercepted more than 100 people attempting to enter the US illegally by boat.

On one day alone (February 21, 2026), the Coast Guard, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the US Navy encountered five different Mexican cartel boats during a ninety-minute period south of San Clemente Island. The flotilla was attempting to smuggle 62 people into California in broad daylight.

One of the vessels flew an American flag in the hope of avoiding being stopped by US Authorities. Another tried to outrun a US patrol boat, then surrendered after warning shots were fired.

Four of the boats were seized by the US government. The fifth, which was taking on water and found to be unseaworthy, was allowed to sink after its passengers and crew were taken into custody.

One night later, a US Coast Guard cutter intercepted another human smuggling vessel with 20 illegal aliens aboard west of Sunset Cliffs, San Diego. The passengers and smugglers were turned over to Department of Homeland Security Agents.

Not all of these human smuggling attempts involve such a large number of illegal aliens. Eight Mexican citizens believed to have entered the US illegally were found aboard a boat off Catalina Island on February 15, 2026. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Los Angeles is looking into that case.

The most recent incident occurred just after midnight on Sunday, March 1, 2026, off Point Loma. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents detected a “panga-style” smuggling boat from Mexico entering US waters and requested Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour to intercept.

The Coast Guard found 14 illegal aliens aboard. The individuals claimed to be citizens of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. They were turned over to Imperial Beach Border Patrol Agents.

Do you believe this recent spike in human smuggling attempts by sea is the result of efforts to make the land border with Mexico more difficult for smugglers to cross with large numbers of illegal aliens?

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Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

The US State Department ended “Shelter in Place” advisories to US citizens in Mexico on Wednesday, February 24, 2026, after the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) unleashed a wave of violence there on Sunday in revenge for the killing of its leader by government security forces.

Mexico’s Embassy to the United States declared the security situation in the country to have “stabilized” in a post on X.com Wednesday morning. Less than an hour later, the US Embassy in Mexico seemingly agreed through its own post on X.com.

The US Embassy in Mexico announced the end to the “shelter in place” advisory through an updated “Security Alert,” which also updated US citizens wishing to leave that country on the current transportation situation:

FLIGHTS

Flight schedules have returned to normal in Guadalajara and many airlines have extra flights planned for today, February 24, in Puerto Vallarta. Both airports are secure, and amenities are available.

If your direct flight to the United States is cancelled, you might consider booking a connecting flight through another Mexican or U.S. city.

ROADS

We have no reports of road closures directed by local authorities, though some roads in Jalisco State (including between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta) are not yet fully reopened.

Actions to Take:

• Check with your airline to confirm your flight status and schedule.

• If you need to rebook your flight, do so before arriving at the airport or anticipate long lines and allow extra time.

• Monitor local media for updates.

• Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.

• Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.

Assistance:

Contact Form
U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico
From Mexico: (55) 2579 2000

From the United States: 011 52 55 2579 2000 or +1-301-985-8843

Department of State – Consular Affairs:  +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

Links:
Mexico International Travel Information
U.S. Citizens in Mexico WhatsApp Channel
U.S. Passports
Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP)
Department of State on Facebook  and X

The Mexican Embassy in the US also provided information about travel conditions:

“Federal and State authorities are proceeding to reopen transit corridors and restore public services smoothly.

Airline operations are normal, and international carriers are resuming flights today. Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to domestic traffic.

If travelling through Jalisco, some local security measures remain in place, while authorities are restoring airport operations to full capacity.
We are working with international partners to ensure safety and stability at all transit hubs and tourist destinations.”

The State Department began issuing “Shelter in Place” advisories to US Citizens on Sunday, February 22, 2026, after Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) members unleashed violence across the country in revenge for the killing of its leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (commonly referred to by his alias “El Mencho”) during a Mexican military operation.

El Mencho was the most wanted person in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the U.S.

CJNG Cartel members set cars, buses, service stations, and convenience stores afire in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta and engaged Mexican Security Forces in firefights on city streets. Cartel violence was reported in dozens of Mexican states.

“This successful operation is part of a broader national effort that has produced a sustained decrease in violence across Mexico in recent months. The Mexican government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the peace and safety of everyone in the country.” - Mexican Government Statement

Now that the security situation in Mexico has “stabilized,” would you go there?

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Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) “to enhance public safety and homeland security operations … in response to escalating cartel violence in Mexico that poses a growing threat to American civilians.”

Governor Abbott has directed the DPS to:

• Surge Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Rangers, Criminal Investigations Division, and Special Operations Group resources to the border region to detect, interdict, and apprehend criminals, and to prevent spillover activity from transnational threats.

• Increase Tactical Marine Unit and Aircraft Operations Division operations along the border to detect and apprehend criminals.

• Activate additional personnel from the Homeland Security Division and Texas Fusion Center to monitor social media and reports of suspicious activity 24/7.

"Mexican drug cartels pose a significant threat to public safety and national security. By increasing proactive efforts to defend against cartel violence, Texas will continue to utilize every tool and strategy to protect our state and our nation. We will not cower to criminals who impose terror on our fellow Texans and Americans." -Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Governor Abbott recommends that Texans traveling to Mexico or already in Mexico take the following steps to ensure their personal safety:

• Heed Federal Warnings: Monitor travel advisories and security alerts issued by the U.S. Department of State and local U.S. Embassy offices.

• Call U.S. Department of State or Texas Fusion Center: Texans in need of immediate assistance or guidance should call:

  • U.S. Department of State from outside U.S.: 1-202-501-4444

  • U.S. Department of State from inside U.S. and Canada: 1-888-407-4747

  • Texas Fusion Center: 1-844-927-0521

• Register with the U.S. Embassy: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time alerts and make it easier for the U.S. government to assist in an emergency.

• Maintain Contact with Family: Keep friends and family informed of your location and travel plans. Establish regular check-ins.

• Avoid High-Risk Areas: Do not travel to regions under active security alerts or where violence and unrest are occurring. Conditions can shift rapidly, even in popular destinations.

• Follow Local and Federal Instructions: If shelter-in-place or travel restriction guidance is issued by authorities, follow those instructions immediately. Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements. Remain in your residences or hotels. Avoid areas around law enforcement activity. Monitor local media for updates. Avoid crowds.

• Prepare for Emergencies: Keep copies of important documents, emergency contact numbers for the U.S. Embassy or nearest Consulate, and ensure you have a reliable means of communication.

“Texans’ safety is my top priority, whether they are here at home or traveling abroad. I urge all Texans in Mexico to follow the guidance of U.S. officials, stay alert, and ensure they are in contact with the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate. Situations on the ground can change quickly, and staying informed can save lives.” -Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Do you support Texas Governor Abbott’s law enforcement “surge” to the border with Mexico?

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Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

The “Shelter in Place” advisory from the U.S. State Department to U.S. Citizens in Mexico on Monday appears to apply to Western Mexico (including the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta as well as Tijuana, which is just across the border from San Diego), according to a midday State Department “Security Alert” on x.com:

“In Puerto Vallarta, flights continue to be disrupted due to availability of flight crews. The Embassy is in close contact with airlines to monitor their plans. All other airports in Mexico are open, and most airports are operating normally. If you are traveling via any airport other than Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta, we have received no indication of any security-related flight disruptions. Check with your airline to confirm your flight status and schedule.

U.S. citizens in specific locations in Mexico are urged to continue to shelter in place. U.S. government staff in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Tijuana (Baja California), Chiapas, and Michoacan are sheltering in place until all blockades are cleared, and we urge Americans to do the same.

While incidents were reported yesterday, February 22, the situation has returned to normal in the following areas: Quintana Roo State (including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas.”

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a more detailed Security Alert on the State Department’s website. Here it is in its entirety:

Security Alert – Update 4: Ongoing Security Operations – U.S. Mission Mexico (February 23, 2026)

Locations:

• Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara)

• Baja California State (including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada)

• Nayarit State (including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area near Puerta Vallarta)

• areas of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Zacatecas states

Event: Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in specific locations in Mexico are urged to shelter in place. U.S. government staff in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Tijuana (Baja California), Chiapas, and Michoacan are sheltering in place until all blockades are cleared, and we urge U.S. citizens to do the same.

While incidents were reported yesterday, February 22, the situation has returned to normal in the following areas: Quintana Roo State (including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas. Please see the general Mexico Travel Advisory for additional information on these locations.

All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Monterrey have been directed to remain in the Monterrey metropolitan area, and U.S. government staff have been directed not to travel to Mazatlan through Wednesday, February 25.

FLIGHTS

In Puerto Vallarta, flights continue to be disrupted due to availability of flight crews. The Embassy is in close contact with airlines to monitor their plans.

All other airports in Mexico are open, and most airports are operating normally. If you are traveling via any airport other than Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta, we have received no indication of any security-related flight disruptions. Check with your airline to confirm your flight status and schedule.

Some, but not all, scheduled flights are departing from Guadalajara; if your flight to the United States is cancelled, you may be able to book a connecting flight through another Mexican city.

ROADS

Mexican authorities have curtailed operations on some toll roads, reportedly in Puebla, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Tijuana, Queretaro, Veracruz, and Mazatlán, due to February 22 blockades.

Actions to Take:

• Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements.

• Avoid areas around law enforcement activity.

• Check @CAPUFE on X for status of road closures.

• Monitor local media for updates.

• Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.

• Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.

Assistance:

Contact Form

U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico

From Mexico: (55) 2579 2000

From the United States: 011 52 55 2579 2000 or +1-301-985-8843

Department of State – Consular Affairs: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

Links:

Mexico International Travel information

U.S. Citizens in Mexico WhatsApp Channel

U.S. Passports

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Department of State on Facebook and X

The State Department began issuing “Shelter in Place” advisories to US Citizens on Sunday, February 22, 2026, after Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) members unleashed violence across the country in revenge for the killing of its leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (commonly referred to by his alias “El Mencho”) during a Mexican military operation.

El Mencho was the most wanted person in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the U.S.

CJNG Cartel members set cars, buses, service stations, and convenience stores afire in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta and engaged Mexican Security Forces in firefights on city streets.

The New York Times reported that 62 people died in the raid that targeted “El Mencho,” and that Mexican authorities “arrested 70 people and killed 34 people suspected of being cartel members in the chaos on Sunday, while 25 members of the national guard had been killed. The dead also included a state prosecutor, a security guard and a civilian.”

The Times also reported that “Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday afternoon that there were no reports that any foreigners had been killed or injured during Sunday’s military raid or its aftermath.”

NOTE: This breaking story will be updated as developments warrant. Our weekly US Border News Newsletter is still pending publication.

If you are planning a Spring Break trip to Mexico, will you still go?

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Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

The U.S. State Department issued an urgent “Security Alert” to U.S. citizens in Mexico on Sunday, February 22, 2026, as violence erupted in the streets after Mexican authorities killed the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

"Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara) should shelter in place until further notice." - Security Alert – Ongoing Security Operations – U.S. Mission Mexico (February 22, 2026)

This US State Department Advisory also applies to “U.S. Citizens in Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State.”

Actions to Take:

• Avoid areas around law enforcement activity.

• Be aware of your surroundings.

• Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements

• Monitor local media for updates.

• Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.

• Avoid crowds.

• Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.

Assistance:

Contact Form
U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico
From Mexico: (55) 8526 2561
From the United States: +1-844-528-6611
Department of State – Consular Affairs:  +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

UPDATE: The State Department Sunday night issued an updated advisory indicating the security threat to U.S. citizens had spread to other areas (see below):

Locations: Widespread, including Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Baja California State (including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada), Quintana Roo State (including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), Nayarit State (including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area near Puerta Vallarta), Sinaloa (including Mazatlan) and areas of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas States

Event: Due to ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in a number of locations in Mexico are urged to shelter in place. U.S. government staff in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco), Cancun (Quintana Roo), Playa del Carmen (Quintana Roo), Cozumel (Quintana Roo), Reynosa (Tamaulipas state), Tijuana (Baja California), and Michoacan will shelter in place and work remotely on Monday, February 23, and U.S. citizens should do the same. All U.S. government staff at Consulate General Monterrey have been directed to remain in the Monterrey metropolitan area, and U.S. government staff have been directed not to travel to Mazatlan through Wednesday, February 25.

While no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with most domestic and international flights cancelled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. All ride shares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta. Some businesses have suspended operations.

Mexican authorities announced late February 22 that operations will be temporarily curtailed on toll roads in Puebla, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Tijuana, Queretaro, Veracruz, and Mazatlan due to blockades that have affected motorists.

Actions to Take:

• Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements.

• Avoid areas around law enforcement activity.

• Check @CAPUFE on X for status of road closures.

• Monitor local media for updates.

• Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.

• Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.

In Jalisco State, the violence extends from Chapala to the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. The English-language newspaper “Vallarta Today” reports that Mexican Authorities have issued a “Code Red” (Alerta Roja) Advisory.

Vallarta Today reports that “confirmed incidents include:

Downtown: Public transit buses have been set on fire in the center of the city.”

Vallarta Today also reports that on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta, “authorities have reported motorcycle chases and an active shootout in the Ixtapa area.”

Outside of Puerto Vallarta, the newspaper reports that “cartel members are hijacking and burning vehicles to create barricades to obstruct military and police movement.

Guadalajara: Burned vehicles are currently blocking major arteries, including the intersection of Avenida 16 de Septiembre and La Paz, as well as Periférico and Calzada Independencia.

Highways & Surrounding Towns: Active blockades are reported in El Tuito, Talpa, the Melaque crossing, Tecolotlán, Ayutla, Ojo de Agua, Linda Vista, and the highway to Morelia.

Local Safety: Outbound travel from neighborhoods like San Esteban toward the main highways will be highly dangerous or entirely impassable right now.”

At 2pm (CT) Mexican government security authorities reported that “in the state of Jalisco, there are currently 21 active highway blockades registered. Federal and state forces are deployed and five (blockades) have already been deactivated.”

The violence was unleashed after Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly referred to by his alias “El Mencho”, was killed during a Mexican military operation.

El Mencho was the most wanted person in Mexico and one of the most wanted in the U.S. The cartel he led (CJNG) is well-armed, well-organized, and well-equipped to unleash violence in large areas of Mexico where it controls the illegal drug trade and other criminal activities.

Reuters reports that American Airlines and United Airlines suspended service to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara on Sunday, while Air Canada also suspended service to Puerto Vallarta. The Dallas Morning News has reported that Southwest Airlines also suspended Puerto Vallarta service, while Delta Airlines also issued “travel waivers” for passengers booked on flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara on Sunday and Monday.

Texas TV station KRGV reported that the CJNG violence extended to “streets and highways in and around Reynosa (across the border from McAllen, Texas), which were blocked with tire spikes, burning buses, trucks, and tires after the Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel on Sunday.”

NOTE: This breaking story will be updated as developments warrant. Our weekly US Border News Newsletter will be published tomorrow.

If you were planning Spring Break travel to Mexico, would you still go?

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Abrazos,

Jack Beavers

The winter storms have not been kind to US Border News.

After enduring four days of flight cancellations and delays trying to return to Texas from weeks of international travel, I arrived at a residence coated in ice and, to literally add injury to insult, suffered a fall along the way, leading to badly bruised ribs and several broken bones in my hand. (Who knew typing could be so difficult with a cast that extends to my fingers?)

I’ll try to resume publishing soon.

Abrazos,

-jack-