U.S. senator tells spring breakers to stay out of Mexico after cartel violence erupts

Senator tells spring breakers to avoid Mexico

Sen. Markwayne Mullin went on CNBC on Feb. 25 and told Americans to cancel their spring break trips to Mexico.

The Oklahoma Republican called the situation “very volatile” after a major cartel leader’s death sparked violence across the country. Mullin said the U.S. is closely watching events unfold.

But his warning goes further than official government guidance. The U.S. Embassy lifted all travel restrictions that same day.

Military operation killed top cartel leader

The Mexican army killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” on Feb. 22 in Tapalpa, Jalisco. El Mencho ran the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal groups.

Ground troops with helicopter support carried out the raid, and U.S. intelligence agencies helped plan the mission. The U.S. had put a $15 million bounty on his head.

His death set off a wave of cartel retaliation almost immediately.

Cartel fighters hit back across Mexico

Within hours of El Mencho’s death, cartel members launched attacks across more than 10 Mexican states. They torched vehicles and used them to block highways.

At least 25 National Guard members died in separate retaliatory strikes. Bus and rail service around Guadalajara shut down.

Southwest, Delta, and Alaska Airlines all canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. The violence pushed the U.S. Embassy to act fast.

Embassy told Americans to shelter in place

On Feb. 22, the U.S. Embassy told Americans in Jalisco, Quintana Roo, Baja California, and other states to stay where they were.

Government staff at several consulates worked from home. Most flights in and out of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta stopped running.

The State Department warned Americans in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon to stay in safe locations.

The lockdown lasted about three days.

Embassy lifted all restrictions by Feb. 25

Three days later, the picture changed. The U.S. Embassy lifted every restriction tied to the Feb. 22 violence.

All consulates reopened for normal business. Flight schedules returned to normal at airports across Mexico, and the Embassy reported no ongoing road closures from local authorities.

Americans were told to go back to standard levels of caution. That puts Mullin’s blanket warning at odds with the official government position.

State Department guidance tells a different story

The State Department keeps Mexico at Level 2, which means “Exercise Increased Caution.” That is the same rating it gives France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Five states carry a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas. Those warnings existed long before El Mencho’s death.

The State Department does not tell Americans to avoid all of Mexico, and its state-by-state advisory page breaks down the risk by region.

Top tourist spots bounced back quickly

Quintana Roo, home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum, returned to normal by Feb. 23. The Yucatan and Campeche regions carry no special travel warning at all.

Los Cabos in Baja California Sur saw little impact from the unrest. Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara took the hardest hits among tourist areas.

U.S. government staff in Jalisco were still under a nighttime curfew as of Feb. 24.

DEA believes CJNG reaches deep

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers the CJNG as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel.

The group operates in at least 21 of Mexico’s 32 states and has a presence in nearly all 50 U.S. states, according to the DEA.

The Trump administration designated the CJNG a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. The cartel is a major supplier of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine flowing into the United States.

Analysts expect months of instability

El Mencho’s death leaves a power vacuum that analysts say could fuel violence for months or even years. His son, known as “El Menchito,” is serving life plus 30 years in a U.S. prison and cannot step in.

The CJNG runs on a franchise model with regional bosses, so it may survive without its founder. Rival groups, including the fractured Sinaloa cartel, may try to grab CJNG territory.

Analysts at the Brookings Institution and the International Crisis Group have warned of drawn-out conflict.

Mexico says calm is returning

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised her security forces and called for calm. The Mexican Embassy in Washington said the security situation has stabilized.

Federal officials reported the country saw no major highway blockades the day after the worst of the unrest. Transit routes reopened and public services came back online.

Mexico’s defense secretary said troops killed eight CJNG members during the operation that took down El Mencho.

About 1.5 million Americans head to Mexico this spring

An estimated 1.5 million American travelers plan to visit Mexico for spring break this year. The State Department advises checking state-by-state advisories before booking any trip.

The Embassy also recommends signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, to get alerts. Travelers should check flight status before heading to the airport, since some delays may linger.

The State Department says Americans should avoid states with Level 4 warnings.

What travelers should know right now

The U.S. Embassy says Americans in Mexico should follow standard precautions as of Feb. 25. Several states remain at Level 4 regardless of the recent violence.

Popular resort areas like Cancun and Los Cabos are running normally. The State Department urges travelers to keep checking its Mexico advisory page for updates.

Experts say flare-ups of violence remain possible in the coming weeks, so staying informed is the smartest move travelers can make.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Destinations U.S. travelers can’t access as easily now
• Spring break destinations with elevated mosquito risks
• 7 Countries Off-Limits for American Travelers as of 2026