Americans in western Mexico found themselves trapped by roadblocks, fires and shutdowns Sunday after the death of cartel boss Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” set off a violent backlash that left parts of the country reeling.
The U.S. provided intelligence support for the Mexican operation targeting the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, authorities said. Cervantes was killed in a shootout with Mexican forces at his home as they attempted to capture him, triggering a rapid cartel response that spread across multiple areas.
Cartel gunmen erected roadblocks and torched vehicles throughout the day, choking highways and forcing residents and travelers to shelter in place. Mexican authorities said most of the blockades were cleared by late Sunday, but the chaos had already disrupted movement for thousands, including American tourists and expats caught in the middle.
In Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and Mexico’s second-largest city, the violence helped bring normal life to a standstill. Businesses shuttered, streets emptied and residents stayed indoors as smoke and fear hung over parts of the region. Passengers arriving at the city’s international airport Sunday night were told it was operating with limited personnel because of the unrest.
Mexico’s Defense Department said Cervantes was wounded during the operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara. He later died while being flown to Mexico City, the department said.
During the raid, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location, according to the Defense Department. Three more people, including Cervantes, were wounded and later died, the department said.
U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson praised Mexico’s armed forces in a statement late Sunday and pointed to closer coordination between the two countries.
He added that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on X that the U.S. government provided intelligence support for the mission and framed Cervantes as a major target for both nations.
“‘El Mencho’ was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland,” she wrote.
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The State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Cervantes’ arrest. The Jalisco New Generation cartel is one of Mexico’s most powerful and fast-growing criminal organizations and began operating around 2009.
The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, an infamous drug lord and leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated.… https://t.co/iKxsAMmnLN
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 23, 2026
For Americans on the ground, the crackdown and the backlash collided in real time: flights, roads and basic services slowed, while security forces raced to restore control. Mexican officials said conditions improved as roadblocks were cleared, but the violence underscored how quickly cartel power can paralyze major tourist corridors and key cities — even after a kingpin is taken off the board.
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