JALISCO, Mexico (KLTV) – An East Texas woman is among thousands of Americans forced to shelter in place as violence spreads across Mexico following the death of one of the country’s most powerful drug cartel bosses. The escalating situation is leaving tourists trapped and unable to return home.
Devone Leach regularly visits her family in San Antonio Tlayacapan, a quiet town just 30 miles outside of Guadalajara. What was supposed to be a peaceful and relaxing vacation quickly turned into a nightmare situation when cartel-led violence broke out across the country, forcing residents and visitors alike to shelter in place.
“It’s not fake news. It’s something that is actually occurring right now,” Leach said. “People are asking me ‘is it really that serious?’ It is serious.”
As the violence escalates, Leach has witnessed the devastating impact on her family’s community. Businesses are closing their doors in fear, with shop owners openly citing cartel threats as the reason.
“More and more of the locals are closing down shop,” Leach said. “One of the guys we knocked on the door and he said ‘we are closing because of the cartel.’”
The widespread shutdowns have created a critical problem for those sheltering in place: access to food and water is limited. Leach’s family is now relying on whatever food they have at home, unable to restock on essentials as nearby shops and restaurants remain closed.
“We were trying this morning again to go out and get some fresh fruit and vegetables, and everything is still shut down,” Leach said.
While Leach says she is sheltering in a relatively safe location, the scenes outside paint a grim picture of the violence ravaging the region.
“We didn’t expect this,” Leach said. “The streets and everything—it’s been kind of demolished. Cars are burned, banks, and the gas stations.”
The violence has prompted major airlines to suspend operations to affected regions. American Airlines, Southwest, Delta, Alaska Airlines, and others have canceled flights to both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
Leach is hoping to return home to Texas this Thursday, but she now finds herself in a waiting game. With flights grounded and the shelter in place orders still in effect, she remains uncertain about when, or if, she’ll be able to safely leave Mexico.
Governor Greg Abbott says the Texas Department of Public Safety is coordinating with the U.S. State Department and the FBI to assist Americans in Mexico.
If you or a family member needs immediate help or guidance while in Mexico, the State Department can be reached for assistance. The Texas Fusion Center, run by the Department of Public Safety, is also coordinating relief efforts.
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