Following the violent events of February 22, 2026, after the operation against Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” doubts arose among national and international travelers about the safety of traveling to tourist destinations such as Cancún and Puerto Vallarta. N+ Univision shares what the authorities indicated after the operations.
U.S. and Mexican authorities issued several statements between February 23 and 25 to inform the public about the situation in various parts of the country.
Last Wednesday, February 25, 2026, U.S. authorities issued a final update, indicating that all restrictions related to the events of February 22 had been lifted for U.S. government personnel in the country:
The Embassy and consulates are operating normally.
Flights have returned to their regular schedules.
They also recommended that U.S. citizens resume standard levels of caution and consult the current travel advisory for Mexico.
Based on the most recent official statements, in Cancún, Quintana Roo, it was reported on February 23 that the situation had returned to normal in the state. No subsequent restrictions were reported, so it is now safe to travel to this tourist destination.
In the case of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, although there were preventive measures in place on February 23 and 24, the complete lifting of restrictions for U.S. personnel and normal operations at airports and consulates was confirmed on February 25.
As of the latest update, there are no active restrictions related to the events of February 22 for U.S. government personnel, and airport operations are functioning normally.
On February 23, 2026, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued an alert for certain areas, including the state of Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara) and Nayarit (including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area).
This was due to roadblocks and criminal activity. U.S. citizens were asked to shelter in place until the roads were cleared. U.S. government personnel in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Ciudad Guzmán remained under this directive.
That same day, it was reported that the situation had returned to normal in several states, including Quintana Roo, home to Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, as well as Baja California, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, and others.
A day later, on February 24, U.S. authorities updated the information and clarified that there were no restrictions for U.S. government personnel in Tijuana and Monterrey.
In Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Ciudad Guzmán, a nighttime curfew and restrictions on movement outside metropolitan areas remained in effect.
Regarding flights, they indicated that schedules in Guadalajara had returned to normal; additional flights were scheduled in Puerto Vallarta. Both airports were considered safe and operating with services.
Regarding highways, no official closures ordered by local authorities were reported, although some roads in Jalisco, including the route between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, were not fully reopened.
The road blockades, clashes, and vehicle burnings occurred after the operation led by federal forces to arrest “El Mencho.”
During the morning press conference on February 23, 2026, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo provided an update on the operation. The Secretary of National Defense, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, explained that the deployment included:
A ground component with Army Special Forces and the National Guard’s Immediate Reaction Force.
An airmobile group with six helicopters.
Air support with Texas-class aircraft from the Mexican Air Force.
Source: univision
