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Puerto Vallarta Unrest After El Mencho Killing Triggers Flight Halts and Political Backlash

Reports of heavy damage in the city’s gay district help explain an MP’s identity‑focused warning.

Overview

  • Mexican authorities, in coordination with the United States, killed CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes on Sunday.
  • Violence flared afterward, with suspected gang members burning buses and businesses and clashing with security forces in Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta.
  • Local LGBTQ outlets reported the city’s historically gay neighborhood suffered extensive damage, with multiple convenience stores and other businesses burned.
  • The United States and Canada advised tourists to shelter in place, and Air Canada canceled all flights to and from Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 23.
  • Canadian MP Heather McPherson urged vigilance and singled out “2SLGBTQIA+” Canadians in Puerto Vallarta, prompting widespread criticism on social media.