Air and ground travel across Mexico have largely returned to normal after disruptions earlier this week tied to a Mexican military operation that killed cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. The Defense Ministry announced the operation on February 22; U.S. officials said it was conducted with U.S. intelligence support. That action prompted violence in parts of Jalisco and beyond, with reports of burned buses, road blockages, and clashes with security forces.
On Wednesday, February 25, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico canceled all shelter-in-place advisories for U.S. travelers nationwide, including for Jalisco and Nayarit. Travelers are still urged to consult the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico, last updated in August 2025. The country advisory remains Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; the state of Jalisco is designated Level 3: Reconsider Travel because of cartel- and criminal-organization-related violence.
Earlier in the week, shelter-in-place notices affected multiple areas including Jalisco and Nayarit, plus regions such as Baja California (Tijuana, Tecate, Ensenada), Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum), Colima, Guanajuato, Estado de Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas. The final advisories for Jalisco and Nayarit were lifted on February 25.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) are operating on regular schedules. Some flights were canceled or delayed earlier in the week, but those interruptions have ended. The U.S. Embassy recommended that travelers check directly with their airlines, consider booking connecting flights through other Mexican or U.S. cities if direct U.S. flights are canceled, and allow extra time for rebooking and potential crowds as operations normalize. Special evacuation flights run by several U.S. and Canadian carriers concluded on February 25.
Local road closures that had been put in place to redirect traffic around violent incidents have been lifted; the U.S. Embassy reported no current official closures by local authorities. The Mexican government has posted updates about road conditions through its federal account @CAPUFE.
Most airlines have resumed normal service to Jalisco and continue to offer travel waivers for passengers whose plans were affected. Current examples of carrier policies include:
– Air Canada: waiver through February 28 allowing delays up to one week from the original travel date.
– Aeromexico: affected travel covered through February 26, with free rebooking available through March 7.
– American Airlines: waiver for Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara through February 26; changes must be made by February 26 to rebook through March 7 without fees.
– Delta: waiver for travel to, from, or through PVR or GDL through February 26; rebooking permitted through March 7 at no charge.
– Southwest: PVR waiver through February 26 allowing delays up to 14 days from the original date.
– United: waiver for affected travel through February 28; rebooking available through March 7 at no additional cost. United suggests using its mobile app or Agent on Demand for assistance.
U.S. citizens in Mexico who need help can contact the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) or +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. or Canada).
The State Department currently lists several Mexican states at higher advisory levels. In addition to Jalisco at Level 3, other Level 3 states include Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Morelos, and Sonora. Six states are at Level 4: Do Not Travel—Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.
The U.S. Embassy encourages travelers to monitor local news, follow instructions from local authorities, call 911 in an emergency, and keep family and friends informed of their location and status. Travelers should enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety alerts and allow the U.S. government to contact them quickly in an emergency; enrollment is free via the State Department website.
