After Chaos Rips Across Mexico, the Remnants of Cartel Violence Haunt Residents

NYT Homepage

by Paulina Villegas and César Rodríguez

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Guadalajara, Mexico's third-largest city, grapples with the aftermath of cartel-related violence following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, a prominent leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The city, once a haven for the cartel, now bears the scars of retaliatory attacks, leaving residents in a state of cautious recovery. The streets of Guadalajara are eerily quiet, with most businesses, schools, and gas stations closed. Normally bustling avenues stand empty, and even the city zoo faced disruptions as stranded visitors were forced to shelter overnight due to blocked roads. The violence has subsided for now, but its impact lingers, underscoring the fragility of daily life under such conditions. The situation highlights the broader struggle across Mexico's regions controlled by cartels. The killing of Oseguera Cervantes triggered a wave of retaliatory attacks, not just in Guadalajara but across the state. This chaos underscores the far-reaching consequences of targeting cartel leaders and the instability it introduces into local communities. For readers interested in news, understanding such events is crucial as they illustrate the ongoing security challenges faced by Mexico. The aftermath in Guadalajara serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of cartel violence on ordinary citizens and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for continued attention to these issues in both national and international contexts.

Verticals

newsgeneral

Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/24/2026