Cartel violence exploded across more than ten of Mexico’s 32 states on Sunday after the government of Mexico confirmed the death of Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, triggering roadblocks, gunfire, and burning vehicle attacks from the Pacific Coast to the Texas border.
The unrest forced airports to halt operations, highways to shut down, and U.S. officials to warn American citizens to shelter-in-place as CJNG gunmen launched coordinated retaliatory strikes nationwide.
🇲🇽🔥🔥
— Contact Lines (@Izo526470677386) February 22, 2026
The video shows armed individuals (cartel members) blocking the road and forcing buses and cars to stop, in order to set them on fire.#CJNG #Guadalajara #Jalisco #PuertoVallarta pic.twitter.com/vMag9B607T
As reported by Breitbart Texas, El Mencho’s death occurred during an enforcement operation conducted by special operations group soldiers with the Mexican Army. At 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense confirmed El Mencho’s demise with the assistance of other military units, including the Mexican Air Force.
A bus set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target burns at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP via Getty Images)
The violence erupted shortly after rumors of El Mencho’s death began to circulate early Sunday morning when cartel gunmen associated with the CJNG began constructing road blockades using semi-tractor trailers and civilian vehicles, some lit on fire, to impede traffic along major roadways in four key states controlled by the cartel.
Cartel just forced a whole family (kids included) out of their SUV to build a roadblock 😱
— Chart Master 📈📉 Sarah (@ChartMasterSara) February 22, 2026
Mexico is straight-up warzone after El Mencho got smoked today.
This video is insane… stay safe down there #CJNG pic.twitter.com/WKx2LcqrEp
The CJNG is one of several cartels in Mexico that have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. Gunmen set multiple vehicles alight and set fire to commercial buildings, bringing traffic in several Mexican cities to a standstill in the border state of Tamaulipas. The violence soon spread to Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Jalisco.
A view of the site where Mexican Army troops killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho,’ leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (Jalisco New Generation), during a federal operation in Guadalajara, Jalisco. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
As the day progressed, violence has been reported by numerous sources in the states of Sinaloa, Baja California, Aguas Calientes, Colima, Guerrero, Nayarit, Puebla, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi, among others.
I am tracking narco bloqueos, shootouts, and other CJNG retaliatory violence in 18 states pic.twitter.com/jpE3dWqszs
— El Huaso (@HuasoBB) February 22, 2026
Mexico has 32 states with varying levels of cartel activity. Thus far, Sunday’s violence has been primarily concentrated in CJNG cartel strongholds in northern, central, and western Mexico.
🚨 VIOLENCIA SE EXTIENDE A QUINTANA ROO
— LuisCardenasMX (@LuisCardenasMx) February 22, 2026
Así se encuentra Quintana Roo tras los hechos registrados este domingo. En la zona norte del estado se reporta la quema de vehículos, en medio de la jornada de violencia desatada tras la muerte de “El Mencho”.
Información @adnnoticiasmx pic.twitter.com/oCQ4UwZYwY
As reported by Breitbart Texas, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place warning to all Americans as a result of the widespread cartel violence. The alert was updated on Sunday afternoon to include multiple cities in nine states. The alert instructs U.S. citizens to avoid areas around law enforcement activity, to communicate their whereabouts with relatives and friends, to avoid crowds, and to monitor local media in Mexico, among other safety measures.
BREAKING:
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) February 22, 2026
🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco region in Mexico looks like it’s in a civil war
Violent scenes from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco region, Mexico, after CJNG launch retaliatory attacks following the elimination of their leader El Mencho. pic.twitter.com/Wol3s4gOma
According to the alert, cartel roadblocks have impaired air travel, with some domestic and international flights cancelled in several areas of Mexico.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Before his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
