The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has instructed American citizens in multiple Mexican states to remain in their homes or hotels as cartel violence escalates across the country.
The advisory comes after two U.S. Embassy personnel were killed in what Mexican officials described as an accident during an operation to dismantle illegal drug laboratories in Morelos state. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said the deaths underscore the dangers faced by officials working to combat organized crime.
What Happened
Mexican authorities said embassy staff and state investigators died when returning from a weekend operation targeting clandestine methamphetamine production facilities. Chihuahua State Attorney General Cesar Jáuregui Moreno said one of the locations was among the largest discovered in the country, with authorities seizing industrial equipment and thousands of liters of chemical precursors.
“This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by those Mexican and U.S. officials who are dedicated to protecting our communities,” Ambassador Johnson said in a statement.
The Affected Areas
The State Department identified five states requiring the shelter-in-place advisory: Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Specific cities including Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Reynosa are included in the alert.
American citizens in these regions have been instructed to avoid crowds, minimize travel, and stay away from law enforcement activity until conditions stabilize.
Context of Rising Violence
The Embassy issued a similar alert last month following cartel violence that erupted after Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), on February 22. Witnesses in Puerto Vallarta reported stores being ransacked and pharmacies burned as armed groups reacted to the operation.
The CJNG has been linked to drug trafficking operations throughout Mexico and internationally.
This story has been updated. CNN’s International Desk contributed to this report.
