FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Americans traveling to and from Mexico are facing travel disruptions and uncertainty after the Mexican army announced Sunday it had killed a top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
Several other highranking cartel members were also killed, according to officials.
The operation, captured in video obtained by ABC News, triggered waves of cartel retaliation across the country.
Tourist destinations saw vehicles and buildings set on fire, and travelers at the Guadalajara airport were recorded scrambling for safety.
At Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Monday night, passengers arriving from Guadalajara described the ripple effects of the unrest.
“We were told that if we got on the flight from Guadalajara, from Cancun, Guadalajara, that it would be four days, be Thursday before we could get a flight back out,” said passenger Scot Rodner.
Rodner said he and his family returned home from Cancun a day later than planned after their original flight through Guadalajara was canceled.
While they made it back to Fresno, their checked luggage did not.
“I just want my wife’s medication, my medication, the things that we need to live our life off,” Rodner said. “Even if we don’t get it back, tell us we’re not getting back, tell us so we can figure out what the heck’s going on.”
As inbound passengers recounted their delays, outbound travelers prepared to head directly into the region experiencing unrest.
Among them was a family traveling to the Jalisco capital.
“I’m worried about what happened in Guadalajara,” said Alfredo, who had just said goodbye to his son, daughterinlaw and two grandsons. “I have family there and I hope everything is okay now.”
Alfredo said his relatives planned to stay in Jalisco for ten days.
“The flights are starting to take off again but yesterday there was a shootout, I hope everything is better now,” he said.
Only one flight was delayed Monday, and no cancellations were reported.
Still, U.S. officials continue to urge Americans in the Mexican state of Jalisco to shelter in place as conditions stabilize.
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