US and Canada issue travel advisories for Mexico following drug cartel leader’s killing

The United States Department of State on Sunday advised Americans in parts of Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, roadblocks, and flight disruptions following the killing of a senior cartel leader by Mexican troops.

In a post on X, the department’s Consular Affairs section said that due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related criminal activity across several areas, US citizens should remain indoors until further notice.

It added that roadblocks had disrupted airline operations, leading to the cancellation of some domestic and international flights in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

According to the army, 59-year-old Nemesio Oseguera, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was injured in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa and later died while being airlifted to Mexico City. He had been the subject of a $15 million US bounty.

Canada said it was closely monitoring developments and advised its citizens in Mexico to keep a low profile and follow instructions from local authorities. It specifically urged Canadians in the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Jalisco to shelter in place, citing reports of gunfights with security forces and explosions.

Several US and Canadian airlines canceled flights to affected areas on Sunday. US carriers United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, along with Canada’s Air Canada and WestJet, announced cancellations to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo.

Some flights were forced to turn back midair, including four Southwest planes bound for Puerto Vallarta. The airline said it would dispatch aircraft to Mexico to bring home stranded passengers and crew once conditions stabilize.