On Sunday, the United States federal government issued a shelter-in-place order for United States citizens in five states of Mexico, after the Mexican Army announced the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” identified as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The Embassy and the United States consulates in Mexico reported that the measure applies to Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. According to that official communication, the shelter-in-place order was issued due to “ongoing security operations and roadblocks and related criminal activity.”
Shelter-in-Place Order: Details
The instruction to remain in shelter was issued across the five states mentioned and, according to the U.S. authorities, should remain “until further notice.” No date or time was reported to lift the measure.
The Embassy and the consulates also disseminated a list of recommendations for those located in the zones included in the shelter order. Among them are: avoid crowds; avoid areas with a presence of security forces; seek shelter; limit movements; follow authorities’ instructions; monitor local media and keep family and friends informed. In case of emergency, they indicated, call 911.
Although the alert targets U.S. citizens, the update reflects a mobility-restricted environment due to operations and roadblocks, so authorities urged reducing travel and staying attentive to official information.
Death of “El Mencho” and roadblocks in several states
The available information indicates that the Mexican Army announced on Sunday that it had killed “El Mencho.” The Associated Press reported the event and noted that, after the leader’s death, hours of roadblocks and vehicles set on fire were recorded in multiple states.
According to the AP, that type of actions has been used to interfere with military operations. In the publicly distributed material, incidents in the state of Jalisco were also described, including events on roads and reports of disturbances in the Guadalajara area.
The United States shelter order is based, precisely, on that scenario of “security operations” and “related criminal activity” that can trigger road closures and risks from travel.
Which states are included in the alert and what do authorities recommend
The states mentioned in the official communication are: Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero and Nuevo León. For people in those entities, the main call was to remain under shelter and avoid exposing themselves to areas with operations or concentrations.
The recommendations issued by the U.S. authorities include:
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Avoid crowds.
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Avoid areas with a presence of security forces.
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Seek shelter and limit movements.
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Monitor local media.
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Follow the instructions of authorities.
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Maintain communication with relatives and friends.
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Call 911 in case of emergencies.
The authority did not detail, in the available text, specific closure points or roads affected; therefore, the central recommendation was to reduce travel and follow local information. In this type of alert, the shelter order tends to be updated as security conditions change.
Flights suspended to Puerto Vallarta
In addition to the safety recommendations, there were disruptions to flights to a major tourist destination. Reuters reported that Air Canada suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta due to an “ongoing security situation.” United Airlines also halted its flights, according to the same agency.
Puerto Vallarta is located in Jalisco, one of the states included in the shelter order. In the available report, the duration of the suspension or whether there are changes to other routes were not specified.
For those who already had travel plans to that area, the information underscores the importance of confirming flight status and following official notices, especially while operations and roadblocks remain in place.
What is known about the CJNG in the report
In the cited information, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was described as an organization known for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States. In that context, the leader’s death was presented as a high-impact security event.
However, with the available data, no further official details have been released about the operation in which “El Mencho” died, nor about an immediate public assessment of consequences. For now, the shelter order remains the preventive measure communicated by the United States while operations continue.
