From SF Gate:
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued an alert to American citizens Sunday morning to shelter in place “until further notice” if they are currently in Jalisco State, which includes Puerto Vallarta, Chapala and Guadalajara, Tamaulipas State or areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State and Nuevo Leon State. The advisory warns citizens to “avoid crowds,” “seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements” and “monitor local media for updates.”
Videos posted to social media and by local journalists show black smoke from car fires in the area, and there are reports of burning vehicles blocking roadways in Jalisco. The unrest is reportedly linked to a military operation targeting a powerful drug lord. The Associated Press reported Sunday that the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” was killed in the operation. Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara and he died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement.
The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.
A statement published on the U.S. Embassy in Mexico’s website and social networks instructed its nationals to follow a specific security protocol:
Avoid areas close to police or military operations.
Remain alert and aware of the surroundings at all times.
Seek shelter and reduce any non-essential movement.
Follow the instructions of local authorities.
Monitor the media for updates.
Notify family and friends of your location and status by calling or texting.
In case of emergency, use the national 911 number.
AZ Central reports:
The Mexican Army confirmed that it had killed the powerful drug lord on Sunday, Feb. 22. Before the official announcement, the crisis erupted with the burning of buses and other public transport vehicles, as well as cars crossing the roads to block traffic.
The violent reaction of the Jalisco Cartel — New Generation was not long in coming after the death of its leader, unleashing a wave of blockades and narco-blockades that paralyzed different points of the state. The violence has quickly spread to neighboring states.
In Michoacán, Governor Alfredo Ramírez adopted measures similar to those in Jalisco, with at least 13 municipalities with roads blocked by burning vehicles. Ramirez called on the population to remain calm while security forces carry out their operations.
Alerta de seguridad – Operaciones de seguridad en curso – Misión Diplomática de los Estados Unidos en México (22 de febrero de 2026)
Febrero 22, 2026
Ubicaciones: Estado de Jalisco (incluidos Puerto Vallarta, Chapala y Guadalajara), Estado de Tamaulipas (incluidos Reynosa y… pic.twitter.com/VPpNcJWSiQ
— Embajada de EE.UU. en México (@USEmbassyMEX) February 22, 2026
🚨 The Puerto Vallarta Costco in Mexico seems to be fully engulfed in flames.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 22, 2026
Read more at SF Gate
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