- U.S. State Department on Tuesday lifted a shelter-in-place order caused by violence and unrest in Mexico.
- The violence began after the Mexican military killed one of the country's biggest drug lords.
- Tourists are generally insulated from cartel violence, with Mexico being a top destination for Americans.
The U.S. government has lifted its “shelter in place” alerts following the killing of a top drug cartel boss, which caused an eruption of violence in several Mexican cities.
The shelter-in-place advisories were lifted on Tuesday in areas including Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Ciudad Guzmán. The relaxation in advisories came as the violence had waned, per USA Today. Flight schedules in Guadalajara have also returned to normal and there were no reports of road closures. Public transportation and businesses are also returning to normal.
Usually tourists in Mexico are well insulated from cartel violence, as the country is the most popular international destination for American travelers.
The violence erupted after a Mexican military operation led to the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He was known as “El Mencho.” Following his death, Mexican officials said they had arrested 70 people and killed 34 suspected of being cartel members, per The New York Times. There were 25 members of the National Guard that were killed.
Around 10,000 Mexican troops were deployed to help contain the unrest.
What travelers need to know
According to USA Today, Mexico remains at a Level 2 travel advisory, meaning Americans are still encouraged to exercise increased caution.
On Sunday, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory to U.S. citizens in certain areas of Mexico to shelter in place until further notice due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity,” per The Hill.
On Monday afternoon, the State Department said that the situation in the states of Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas had “returned to normal.” Quintana Roo includes the popular destinations of Tulum, Cancún, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.
An alert issued on Tuesday said that “U.S. citizens are no longer urged to shelter in place” in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Ciudad Guzmán.
During the period of violence and unrest, travelers in some areas reported witnessing explosions, gunfire and burned-out cars and buses.
On Sunday, several U.S. airlines canceled flights and gave travel advisories for airports in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Change fees were waived for passengers whose flights were affected. On Tuesday, flight schedules had returned to normal in Guadalajara, per The New York Times.
Travelers headed to Mexico should check with their individual airlines. They should also keep track of the State Department’s travel advisory page for up-to-date information. It is also recommended for travelers to register with the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.