Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has called on American students to cancel their travel plans to Mexico for the upcoming spring break. This warning comes amid a surge of violent outbreaks after the Mexican military successfully eliminated Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious cartel kingpin known as El Mencho.
Speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on February 25, Mullin emphasized that the security situation in the neighboring country is currently highly unstable. He advised U.S. citizens to strictly avoid traveling to Mexico at this time to ensure personal safety. The Senator even mentioned that he opposed a friend's decision to travel to Cancún.
Operation to Eliminate the CJNG Cartel Leader
El Mencho was the supreme leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal organization targeted in a military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco state. Mexico's Ministry of Defense confirmed that this operation was the result of close bilateral coordination, with the United States providing critical intelligence support. CJNG is currently considered Mexico's most powerful drug cartel, with approximately 19,000 members operating extensively.
Immediately after El Mencho’s death, cartel members carried out a series of retaliatory actions, such as burning vehicles and blockading numerous roads in western Mexican states. Armed clashes have caused chaos, forcing local authorities to deploy special forces to stabilize the situation. Although Mexican officials announced that security is under control and airports have reopened, the potential risks remain very high.
The U.S. State Department maintains strict travel advisories for Mexico, even though shelter-in-place orders for citizens have been lifted. Senator Mullin noted that the fragmentation of the cartels following this operation is a pivotal moment. He hopes this will be an opportunity for the U.S. and Mexican governments to tighten control and thoroughly dismantle cross-border drug trafficking activities in the future.
