South America has been facing political crises, first with the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, by U.S. military forces, and now, Mexico is experiencing a brief era of violence.
As of February 22, 2026, El Mencho or Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, a drug lord who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (JNGC), has been killed by Mexican security forces.
The cartel had caused political and social unrest through setting vehicles on fire and blocking roads, especially after Mencho’s death. This drew the attention of the Canadian government, in that a new travel warning was sent to caution citizens about dangerous public shootouts. If a flight was not essential, it would be best to be on your way. On Sunday, 14 people, who included members of the National Guard, were killed across the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. Now the count has reached 73.
Cartels have stayed put instead of moving out to the United States and control territory inside the nation through force and their own militarization. El Mencho‘s lover lured forces in, and they shot him, dying before receiving medical aid. The plan was to kidnap Cervantes, which crept between secrecy, considering the monopoly it has worked through, but it has denied Mexicans peace in return. The murder has marked a wave of violence intrinsically tied to the quality of life and international affairs. The United States were alongside Mexico on this investigation in the hopes that it would improve cross-border business, but what does this event mean for Brazil and its already built-up partnerships in the world?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set on the stage of Guadalajara, a current loophole that deals with the larger world. People hide waiting for an announcement that makes them feel safe. Experiencing it firsthand was a first for Canadians. Vincent La Pointe, travelling back to Calgary, mentioned that it was surreal eating your food at a resort while people are dying. The significance of this statement is more telling of the impact on those who have no other choice than to lie on cardboard in the airport, or to simply stay isolated in their homes, praying that they are not another victim.
El Mencho spent time in between the U.S. and Mexico building an empire by expanding territory and managing to get their way into more illegal activities. Wars were normal for cartels and Mencho, the opportunities he used to cement the reputation of JNGC in terms of danger, crime rate, and threatening public safety. Since Mencho progressively became a rising force, some questions go beyond the surface – will there be another event in the chain reaction, or a completely different reaction, or could this go well for Mexico to settle under control? The death and its purpose entail the rights of the citizens of Mexico as a powerful move. Although unsettling to do, the only thing to say the least, is we’ll have to see.
Tell me, dear reader, what is on your mind when you hear about lockdowns or travel measures regarding international safety, and what about the times have made you think of the same thing, and what was it? Should we just stay in and forget what has happened, once things may finally settle? Share your thoughts respectfully and be more accepting of other views without discrimination. Thank you for reading!
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexico-el-mencho-9.7103578
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/23/who-was-el-mencho-drug-cartel-boss-killed-mexico