Concern Over Cartel: Cartel violence in Mexico is causing concern for spring break plans

One of the largest drug cartels in Mexico, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has started a trend of violent activities across almost 20 different Mexican states, increasing in severity throughout the past month. 

Now, some SM East students are changing their spring break plans or taking extra precautions if they are still traveling to Mexico. 

The violence from the cartel is in retaliation for the group’s main leader, El Mencho, who was killed on Feb. 22, after being held in captivity by the Mexican Special Forces, according to BBC.

Though cartel activities have been occurring for some time now, with the increased violence recently, the U.S. Government issued a Mexico travel advisory to take precautions. This advisory applies to those planning to travel to Mexico, but also to citizens within Mexico.

Junior Maci Grecian was initially supposed to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with her family and a close friend, but due to concerns about the cartels attacking tourists and setting local businesses aflame, they decided to go to Hawaii instead.

“Hawaii is still obviously a really fun place to go,” Grecian said. “But I was supposed to go with one of my friends to Mexico, and now she's going to Florida.”

Other students, like seniors Hank Hunter, Charlie Tompkins and Jack Taylor, are still planning to travel together to a resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for spring break because it’s only an “exercise caution” location, according to Hunter. 

Initially, Hunter was worried when he learned of the cartel violence, but after talking it through with his parents and doing some research about the warnings, he decided that it was safe enough to go. Hunter is planning on staying mostly at their resort in Cabo, just to err on the side of caution.

“I was worried, because at first I didn't know exactly what parts or what states in Mexico were going to be most affected, but I'm pretty sure the government sent out that list of do-not-travel states,” Hunter said. “I think [Cabo] was either no threat or low caution.”

Currently, people located in Mexican states at risk are being advised to stay inside, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, because of the fires and blockades on main highways and roads.

Students who are still traveling to areas in Mexico should take precautions by staying at their resort or destination with other people and avoiding high-traffic areas, according to the U.S.  Embassy and Consulates in Mexico.