Staff Reports
On February 22, 2026, Mexican armed forces say they killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — known as “El Mencho” — during a raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and he reportedly died of wounds while being flown to Mexico City. This was the top prize in the fight against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a criminal enterprise that has terrorized communities on both sides of the border for years.
The government operation did not end the danger — it unleashed a nightmarish wave of cartel retaliation across Jalisco and neighboring states, with roadblocks, burning vehicles, and chaotic scenes in tourist hubs like Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Airports and travel services were disrupted and authorities from the United States and Canada issued urgent safety alerts as frightened travelers scrambled to safety.
American citizens were warned to shelter in place and to avoid travel to affected areas as the situation unfolded; foreign governments moved quickly to protect their people while Mexicans faced the same terror at home. This is not a moment for platitudes — it is a red flag for every family that prizes safety and common sense.
Make no mistake about the stakes: the CJNG is a massive trafficking machine that funnels fentanyl, meth, cocaine and heroin into the United States, and its top leaders have long been priority targets for U.S. law enforcement and prosecutors. The seizure of weapons and armored vehicles during the raid underscores that these cartels are armed paramilitary groups, not mere smugglers, and they represent a direct national security threat to our towns and children.
This moment exposes the failure of weak-border policies and political complacency that have allowed cartels to entrench themselves and expand their reach into American communities. Conservatives should applaud the bravery of Mexican soldiers who risked everything to strike at a monster, but we must also demand accountability from those who opened the gate and watched the flood come through.
Washington must stop treating cartel violence as someone else’s problem and adopt a strategy that actually defends Americans: secure the southern border, cut off the financial and logistical networks that feed these criminal empires, and provide real support to Mexican forces fighting this war on the ground. Half-measures and moralizing speeches will not bring our kids home or stop the fentanyl that is killing them.
Hardworking Americans deserve a government that protects them first. On February 22, 2026, the world was reminded that evil can be struck but not defeated by theatrics alone — it must be stopped by strength, clarity, and unapologetic action. Patriots should demand policies that reflect that truth and stand with those who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
