Florida Atlantic University students were left wondering what to do with their spring break trips due to the recent conflict in Mexico surrounding the death of the leader of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as ‘El Mencho,’ in a military operation led by Mexican special forces.
Sophomore Addison Brown, who had her trip fully booked and paid for, decided to cancel because of the conflicts. “We decided it was not worth the risk to travel there,” said Brown.
Some risks of traveling to Mexico mentioned in the U.S Embassy and Consulates in Mexico statement include sexual assault, violent crime, drowning, and scams.
Despite changing her trip location, Brown said she was only worried about her travel plans to Mexico, not international travel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed United States involvement in the operation through a post on X, saying, “The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government.”
Following this, on March 2, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico released a statement titled “Message to U.S Citizens: Spring Break Travel” that warned Americans of safety concerns when traveling to Mexico.
The warning states, “While the widespread violence that took place on Feb. 22 following Mexican security operations has ended, risks of crime and kidnapping remain.”
The statement refers to members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel blocking roads and setting vehicles on fire throughout Mexican states like Jalisco in retaliation for their leader’s death, which prompted the U.S Embassy and Consulates in Mexico to warn Americans in Jalisco State, Tamaulipas State, Guerrero State, Nuevo León State, and areas of Michoacán to shelter in place.
This is not the only reason for concern about international travel. Recently, Americans were left stranded in the Middle East after over 24,000 flights were disrupted because of escalating conflict with Iran, according to CBS News.
Senior Julia Chambers initially planned to cancel her trip but ultimately decided against it. “Some of my group I was going with didn’t feel like it was the best time to go; we didn’t want to risk anything,” said Chambers.
However, Chambers felt it was safe enough when she realized her trip was nowhere near where the conflict happened in Jalisco.
“Being at an all-inclusive resort made me feel a lot better about my decision, since we don’t have a need to leave the resort,” said Chambers. “Flying internationally will definitely have some risks, but I trust that I’ve set up my spring break trip in the best way to ensure I’ll be safe.”
Following her trip, Chambers says “everything went perfectly smooth.”
Maja Durant, a travel advisor and owner of Relax and Unwind Travel, says many travelers have expressed concerns about kidnapping, cartel violence, and transportation safety.
However, this shifted her role from just helping clients book trips to helping them stay safe as well.
“I advise all clients-not just those traveling to Mexico-to approach international travel with intentional planning and awareness,” said Durant.
Some travel tips Durant shared include staying informed through government sources, avoiding high-risk areas, and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Isaiah Sewell is a Staff Writer for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or contact him on Instagram @izayahx_.
