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An American vacationer’s account from Puerto Vallarta reads like something out of a war report: Eugene Marchenko told reporters he woke to blaring horns, ran for cover and watched six cars and a fuel tanker go up in flames outside his Airbnb as masked men torched vehicles to block the streets. Ordinary tourists found themselves trapped, evacuated from rooms, and forced to shelter for hours while armored vehicles and military helicopters moved through the city.
Mexican security forces say they killed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” in a targeted operation on February 22, and the cartel’s response was immediate and brutal — roadblocks, burning vehicles and shootouts sprang up across Jalisco and beyond. Local scenes of burned-out cars and armed men parading through highways showed the frightening reach these criminal networks still enjoy despite repeated promises from officials.
The U.S. State Department warned Americans to shelter in place in parts of Mexico as airlines suspended flights and airports temporarily locked down, leaving stranded travelers scrambling for information and safety. Flight cancellations and travel advisories are the practical fallout when governments face off with narco-terrorists who will torch roads and airports to make a point.
Reporting from the ground described panic, shortages and frightened families huddled in hotel lobbies eating granola bars while helicopters circled overhead — scenes every parent and patriot should find intolerable. These are not isolated incidents of petty crime; they are coordinated acts of intimidation intended to humiliate state power and disrupt daily life for citizens and visitors alike.
What should outrage all Americans is that this nightmare unfolded even as Washington and Mexico coordinate; U.S. intelligence reportedly helped locate El Mencho, yet cartels still have the firepower and audacity to terrorize towns and tourists in retaliation. If we claim to care about the safety of our citizens and the rule of law, we must be blunt: intelligence assistance without hard power and secure borders leaves Americans exposed to the fallout.
State leaders and governors have begun mobilizing resources and sounding the alarm as returning travelers and stranded families demand answers and protections, but words and travel advisories are not enough. It’s time for decisive action: secure the border, strengthen bilateral law enforcement cooperation, and make clear that those who traffic poison and bring terror to our hemisphere will find no sanctuary and no patience from a government that answers to its people.
