This narrative has been revised to include additional details.
Spring break begins in March for numerous students and families in the California Central Valley, and it is among the most popularspring break destinationsoutside of the United States is Cancún, Mexico. Many are questioning whether the region is secure for visiting following the leader ofJalisco New Generation Cartel was eliminated by the Mexican army.
As of Tuesday afternoon, U.S. citizensno longer required to stay indoorsin Mexico. The stay-at-home mandates have been rescinded in the cities where they were still in effect, according to aFeb. 24 security alertFrom the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico. Furthermore, flights have resumed regular operations in Guadalajara, with additional flights scheduled for Puerto Vallarta’s airport.
The U.S. Department of State released a security alert on February 22, urging Americans in Mexico to “stay indoors” until additional information is available due to increasing violence following thedeath of the influential drug cartel leaderDuring a military operation, tourists throughout Mexico sought refuge due to a surge in retaliatory violence, with gunmen blocking highways and setting vehicles on fire.
Residents in Jalisco state, which includes Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara; Tamaulipas state, which encompasses Reynosa and other localities; and parts of Michoacan state, Guerrero state, and Nuevo Leon state were urged to stay put because of ongoing security efforts, road checkpoints, and criminal threats, according to the U.S. government.previously said.
The recommendation had earlier been broadened to cover Baja California state, such as Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada; Quintana Roo state, including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum; along with Sinaloa, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Zacatecas, and additional regions.
Flights were suspended, including those traveling to and from Mexico frommajor California airports including SFO and LAX.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport on X stated on Sunday that all international flights and most domestic flights were canceled, with other airlines also reporting some cancellations within Mexico.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), located north of Visalia, also provided an update regarding affected flights departing from the Central Valley airport.
Two flight arrivals and two departures from Guadalajara, Mexico were called off on Sunday, February 22. Furthermore, one flight traveling from Guadalajara to Fresno experienced a delay, causing a postponed departure back to Guadalajara, as reported by FAT authorities.
Early morning flights on Monday, February 23, between Fresno and Morelia, Mexico, were conducted as scheduled. FAT officials stated that by Monday afternoon, they had not received any notifications regarding cancellations or delays for Guadalajara or other international flights on Monday night.
“Travelers flying to Mexico are advised to maintain communication with their airline for the most recent flight updates,” said FAT officials.
Here’s what you need to be aware of regarding the travel warning for Mexico.
Are air journeys to Mexico being called off?
Although no airports have been shut down, roadblocks have affected airline activities, resulting in the cancellation of most domestic and international flights in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, as reported by the U.S. Embassy warning.
All flights operated by American Airlines on Sunday, February 22 to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara have been canceled.according to its website.It is uncertain when flights will resume.
Southwest Airlines also canceledA few flights on Sunday, with regular services to Puerto Vallarta “possibly affected” until Wednesday, Feb. 25. “We will keep assessing the conditions as the situation changes. The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority,” Southwest Airlines stated in a message to FOX Business.
Flight cancellations at LAX and SFO in California
Los Angeles International Airport, also known as LAX, reported 128 flights departing from or arriving at the airport were canceled by 10 a.m. on February 23,according to FlightAware.
LAX’s website indicated that multiple departing flights had been canceled, primarily heading to East Coast locations such as New York, Newark, and Boston. Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were also called off for February 23.
Flight Awarealso indicated that 86 flights arriving at or departing from San Francisco International Airport, or SFO, were canceled on Monday, including all incoming flights from Boston Logan International, John F. Kennedy International, and Newark Liberty International.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, along with Air Canada, also halted flights in Puerto Vallarta, according to FOX Business.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, stated during a morning press briefing on Monday that air travel will restart in the coming days.
Is it currently safe to visit Cancun?
The U.S. Embassy included Cancun among 15 other states in its security warning issued on Sunday, stating, “because of continuous security operations and associated road closures and criminal activity, U.S. citizens in various locations across Mexico are advised to remain indoors.”
What happened in Mexico?
The U.S. Embassy released a safety warning for several areas in Mexico after themurder of the well-known drug trafficker “El Mencho.”
“El Mencho,” Nemesio Oseguera, the head of theJalisco New Generation Cartel(CJNG) was killed during a military operation carried out by Mexican special forces on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, according to the Mexican defense ministry. The operation was conducted with assistance from intelligence provided by U.S. authorities.
The demise of the influential drug cartel leader led to a surge in violent incidents, such as cars being set on fire and armed individuals obstructing roads across over a dozen states in Mexico.
Is it currently safe to visit Mexico?
The U.S. warning covers the state of Jalisco (including the cities of Guadalajara, Chapala, and Puerto Vallarta), the state of Tamaulipas (including the border city of Reynosa, located across the Rio Grande from McAllen, Texas), and certain areas within the states of Michoacan, Guerrero, and Nuevo Leon.
A Sunday evening alert updatereported issues have spread to multiple cities across at least 15 states, including Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada, and Tecate), Quintana Roo (Cancun), Sinaloa (Mazatlan), and regions in Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Colima, Puebla, Oaxaca, the state of Mexico, Queretaro, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.
This piece first was published in the El Paso Times:Is it safe to visit Mexico during spring break? Key information for travelers from Visalia
