U.S., Canada challenge journey warnings for Mexico after drug kingpin killing

The U.S. State Division on Sunday (February 22, 2026) urged Americans in elements of Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, street blocks and flight cancellations after Mexican troopers killed a prime cartel boss.

“Because of ongoing, widespread safety operations and associated street blockages and prison exercise in lots of areas of Mexico, U.S. residents ought to shelter in place till additional discover,” mentioned an announcement from the division’s Consular Affairs part on social media platform X.

“Roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with some home and worldwide flights canceled in each Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” it mentioned.

Nemesio Oseguera, the 59-year-old chief of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel, was injured in a conflict with troopers within the city of Tapalpa and died whereas being flown to Mexico Metropolis, the military mentioned in an announcement. He had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head.

Canada mentioned it was monitoring the scenario intently and suggested Canadians in Mexico to “maintain a low profile and comply with recommendation of native authorities.”

It urged residents in Michoacan, Guerrero and Jalisco states to shelter in place, citing “shootouts with safety forces and explosions.”

A number of U.S. and Canadian airways cancelled flights to elements of Mexico on Sunday (February 22, 2026) following the unrest.

U.S. carriers United, American, Southwest and Alaska, in addition to the Canadian airways Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, introduced the cancellation of flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo.

Some planes needed to flip again whereas already en path to Mexico, a number of airways mentioned, together with Southwest, which turned again 4 flights initially certain for Puerto Vallarta.

Southwest mentioned it will ship plane to Mexico to repatriate its stranded passengers and employees as soon as the scenario normalizes.