The White House warned Mexican drug cartels on Tuesday not to harm US citizens as violence continued across Mexico following the death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.
“The Mexican drug cartels know not to lay a finger on a single American or they will pay severe consequences under this president. And they already are,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Fox News appearance on Tuesday morning.
Leavitt said Washington had no reports of US citizens harmed in the violence. “Right now, we are unaware of any reports of any Americans being hurt, kidnapped, or killed,” she said.
The White House confirmed the operation that killed Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” on Sunday in Tapalpa in Jalisco state, was carried out by Mexican authorities with US intelligence support.
“This operation, which was carried out successfully by Mexican authorities, was of course supported by the United States, would not have happened without the leadership of President (Donald) Trump,” Leavitt said.
The Trump administration designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organisations in February 2025. Leavitt said the US has taken “lethal measures” against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.
“We are coordinating and cooperating and pushing the Mexican government to do more to end the scourge of deadly drugs coming through our United States southern border,” she said.
Four cartel members were killed in the operation, including Oseguera; three were wounded, and two were arrested, according to Mexican authorities. US intelligence provided support for the operation.
Violence erupted across approximately 20 Mexican states following Oseguera’s death. Mexican authorities reported 25 National Guard troops killed, along with at least 30 suspected CJNG members.
Cartel members set up around 250 roadblocks on federal highways and set fire to vehicles, attacking petrol stations, shops and banks. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced late Sunday that authorities had cleared most of the blockades.
Several Mexican states cancelled school on Monday. Hundreds of US tourists were stranded in western cities including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.
The US State Department set up 24-hour phone lines to assist American citizens affected by the unrest. The US had previously offered a reward of up to $15m for information leading to Oseguera’s arrest.
Additional sources • AP