Is Mexico Under an International Travel Alert? States to Avoid and Official Recommendations

Violence following the death of El Mencho

International airlines suspend flights

United States issues alert

Major international airlines suspended flights to and from Puerto Vallarta this Monday, following the wave of violence unleashed by the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

The interruption impacts one of the most important tourist destinations for travelers from the United States and Canada.

Airlines cancel international flights and hit tourism in Puerto Vallarta

The Aeropuerto Internacional de Puerto Vallarta (PVR) recorded cancellations from multiple U.S. and Canadian companies.

Airline cancellations and international alert following the death of “El Mencho” in Mexico

Airlines with canceled flights

United Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Sun Country Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Southwest Airlines

WestJet

Air Canada

The affected routes include key U.S. cities

Houston

Minneapolis

Los Angeles

Denver

San Diego

Detroit

Atlanta

Santa Ana

San José

New York

Phoenix

Destinations in Canada

Edmonton

Saskatoon

Toronto

Kelowna

Vancouver

Winnipeg

Regina

Air Canada confirmed on social media:

«The security situation in Puerto Vallarta continues, and local authorities have issued shelter-in-place orders. Air Canada flights to and from PVR will be canceled.»

In contrast, American Airlines maintained regular operations.

In Guadalajara, flights continued to Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, Fort Worth, Las Vegas, San José, Denver, Anchorage, and Los Angeles, with only Salt Lake City canceled.

The operation against “El Mencho” triggered blockades and violence in 20 states

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Mexican authorities carried out an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. Hours later, the death of Oseguera Cervantes was confirmed when he was being transferred injured to Mexico City.

The Mexican Government reported that the operation included information from the United States, which was confirmed by the White House.

Following the killing, the following were recorded:

252 blockades in 20 states

23 active blockades as of Sunday night

Four partial closures

Jalisco was the most affected state with 65 blockades.

There were also incidents in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chiapas, Colima, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Zacatecas.

The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection reported the death of 25 soldiers, one prison guard, one agent of the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office and 30 members of the CJNG.

The United States expands Mexico travel advisory alert and identifies destinations where extra precautions are advised

The U.S. Department of State issued an alert «due to persistent security operations and related road blockades and criminal activity» and «urges U.S. citizens in several cities in Mexico to shelter in place.»

The areas identified include:

Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, Guadalajara)

Baja California (Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada)

Quintana Roo (Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum)

Nayarit (Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta)

Sinaloa (Mazatlán)

Regions of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Zacatecas

The statement also indicated that:

«U.S. Government personnel in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzmán, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Reynosa, Tijuana and Michoacán will shelter in their homes and work remotely on Monday, February 23, and U.S. citizens should do the same.»

Additionally, U.S. personnel were ordered not to travel to Mazatlán until February 25.

What to do if you are in Mexico during the travel advisory alert?

Mexico Travel Advisory Alert After El Mencho’s Death – PHOTO: Shutterstock

The official recommendations include:

Seek shelter

Minimize travel

Avoid areas with police activity

Check @CAPUFE for highway closures

Follow local media

Call 911 in case of emergency

Maintain contact with family

Mexican government responds and denies rumors

President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that: «all highways are open, people can travel,» and that airlines «suspended some flights as a preventive measure,» expecting that «during the course of the day or, at the latest, tomorrow all flights will be restored.»

For its part, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States clarified:

«It is false that attacks against civilians occurred at the Guadalajara airport. It is false that attacks were carried out against the general population in Jalisco. It is false that members of organized crime held U.S. tourists hostage. False photograph of a plane on fire in Guadalajara. It is false that armed men took over the Guadalajara airport facilities. It is false that U.S. military personnel participated in the detention of Rubén ‘N’ in Mexico.»

You may also like: Sheinbaum Speaks After El Mencho’s Killing, Calls for Calm and Assures Full National Coordination

Puerto Vallarta, which received 6.26 million tourists last year, now faces flight cancellations, an international alert and a strong security deployment while authorities seek to stabilize the situation amid the ongoing Mexico travel advisory alert.

SOURCE: Univision / EFE