Residents of Southwest Washington with family or travel plans in Mexico are watching a rapidly shifting security situation after Mexican authorities confirmed the death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. His killing during a military operation in Jalisco triggered widespread retaliation across multiple Mexican states, with vehicles and buildings set on fire and roads blocked by criminal groups. According to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting, Mexican officials reported at least 73 deaths connected to the operation and its aftermath.

While the events are unfolding more than a thousand miles from Longview and Kelso, the local impacts are immediate for regional travelers and families with ties to Mexico. Portland International Airport (PDX), used heavily by Cowlitz County residents, saw multiple flight cancellations on Sunday and Monday affecting routes to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. An airport spokesperson told OPB that travelers should continue monitoring airline alerts for changes. Flights to Los Cabos, as of Monday, continued operating.

Travelers already in Mexico, including Oregonians passing through Jalisco and Guerrero states, described roadblocks, heavy police presence, and shelter‑in‑place advisories. One traveler told OPB that hotels in the coastal community of Ixtapa were filling quickly as visitors abandoned travel plans and waited for conditions to stabilize. Mexican federal authorities announced Monday that more than 250 cartel‑constructed roadblocks had been cleared, though the scale of damage and the potential for further unrest remains under evaluation by local governments there.

The disruptions have also reached academic programs. Several Oregon universities reported they are in communication with students studying abroad in Mexico. Oregon State University confirmed to OPB that two students are in areas not currently under U.S. Embassy or International SOS shelter‑in‑place advisories. Pacific University and the University of Oregon each reported having one student in unaffected regions. Universities are also offering support to Mexican international students living in the Pacific Northwest who may be concerned about family members.

For families in Southwest Washington with relatives living or traveling in Mexico, the situation has added new uncertainty. While no disruptions have been reported at Washington airports so far, PDX remains the primary departure point for most South Cowlitz County residents planning international travel. Travel agents and airlines continue to recommend that passengers confirm itineraries multiple times per day and prepare for the possibility of short‑notice cancellations.

Why this matters

Southwest Washington maintains steady travel, cultural, and economic ties to western Mexico. Many local residents have family in Jalisco, Nayarit, and Guerrero, and winter travel to coastal tourist centers is common. The cartel‑related unrest has produced sudden and unpredictable changes in airport operations and ground travel, conditions that may complicate upcoming return flights and family communication. Continued monitoring from official Mexican authorities, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and individual airlines will determine whether disruptions extend into the coming days.

Sources

Oregon Public Broadcasting: Oregon residents and expats among those caught up in cartel violence in Mexico