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?
Share your opinion in the comments to this article!
Thanks for reading the US Border News! This post is public, so feel free to click the button below to share it.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Only a fool with a death wish would vacation in Mexico.
Thank you, Jack!
Holy moly! What a disaster in those resort areas. We know people who own condos in Puerto and one friend in Guadalajara. We always thought they were nuts. Our friends use to walk around town. Crazy.