Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music The Best Music of 2025 All Songs Considered Tiny Desk Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop The Best Music of 2025 All Songs Considered Tiny Desk Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics American tourists in Mexico share their experience after cartel leader's death Americans visiting a Mexican resort city share what they're seeing and experiencing following the killing of a powerful cartel leader. World American tourists in Mexico share their experience after cartel leader's death February 25, 20264:41 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Hosts American tourists in Mexico share their experience after cartel leader's death Listen · 2:11 2:11 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5724007/nx-s1-9662938" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Americans visiting a Mexican resort city share what they're seeing and experiencing following the killing of a powerful cartel leader. Sponsor Message
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
We go next to Jalisco, Mexico, several days after Mexican security forces killed the powerful drug lord El Mencho there. The government's killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes touched off a wave of violence in several parts of the country. Cartel members blockaded roads, set cars and buildings on fire, also set off explosions. Now schools and businesses are reopening, and some Americans who got stuck are figuring out how to return home.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Yeah. Flights were initially canceled. And on Monday, the U.S. Embassy advised Americans in multiple Mexican states to shelter in place.
JULIANA WYNKOOP: In general, the vibe I'm picking up here is just a lot of nervousness, anxiousness, fearmongering, a lot of discussion of politics.
FADEL: Juliana Wynkoop was in Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort destination in the state of Jalisco. Wynkoop was visiting from Northern California. Her husband is Mexican and was visiting family in Mexico City.
WYNKOOP: I called him, and he was shocked when he pulled up the news - said that he'd never heard anything like this happening there or seen it to this extreme.
MARTÍNEZ: Kelly Banks (ph) from New Orleans was vacationing with friends in Puerto Vallarta on Sunday when they heard explosions.
KELLY BANKS: And then it just basically continued throughout the day. There were a few breaks in time, like, for an hour or a couple of hours, and then they would start again. And we could see the smoke and the explosions all around us, surrounding us. There was gunfire in the streets, and it was, well, scary.
MARTÍNEZ: Eventually, she says, they were able to go out and get food and supplies. They plan to leave tomorrow.
BANKS: Although the situations are not the same, it is a very similar feeling to being in New Orleans after a major hurricane. The community in general is trying to help each other.
FADEL: And Wynkoop hopes that this won't permanently damage Puerto Vallarta's image.
WYNKOOP: There is so much kindness and so much good here. And I do hope this situation resolves itself because the majority of people here in this country are great, and I don't want this to change anybody's perception.
FADEL: On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy said most roads are fully opened, flight schedules return to normal and many airlines planned extra flights for leaving Puerto Vallarta.
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