Californians with deep ties to Jalisco rattled by cartel violence and fears of bloody power struggle

Two days after Mexican forces killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel last month, Gladdys Uribe was at home in California, anxiously watching her parents’ movements in Mexico.

The capture and murder of Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the world’s most wanted drug trafficker, triggered a violent retaliation that spread from Jalisco to other states; Highways were closed, businesses and vehicles were burned, and 25 Mexican national guardsmen were killed.

The outbreak of violence lasted just over a day but shook much of Los Angeles, where ties to Jalisco run deep. jalisciences and their descendants are bracing for more chaos in their homeland as rivals in the splinter cartel jockey for power.

Tens of thousands of Angelenos worry about their families in Jalisco; Those in the U.S. without papers fear being dragged into Trump’s immigration crackdown and sent back to a place where deportees are often targets of cartels.

Uribe frantically followed the February 22 uprising through texts, video calls and social media.

His parents, aunt and uncle in Jalisco have since returned to the U.S., but he and other families fear this could happen. bloody power struggle in the cartel Like the event that cost many civilian lives when the Sinaloa cartel disintegrates in 2024.

“I think things will get more violent in the short term,” Uribe said. “In the past, when a cartel appeared weak, other cartels tried to encroach on their territory.”

Alex Martinez, whose family is in Jalisco, said some of his aunts, uncles and cousins ​​who live in Zapopan, next to Guadalajara, are afraid to go out while the cartel is in crisis.

“It’s like the saying: If you cut off the head of a snake, more heads will grow,” he said. “The real hope is for a smooth transition of power.”

Gladdys Uribe shows phone calls between her and her mother on February 22, the day Mexican armed forces killed “El Mencho.”

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

The violence is putting additional pressure on mixed-status families in the U.S. with ties to Mexico, many of whom face deportation under the Trump administration.

“I have family that wants to come, but the ICE situation here complicates things,” Martinez said. “And this is a family that wanted to do it legally.”

The administration also limited the number of foreign nationals who can enter the country. canceling or tourist visa rejection, and increasing immigration fees.

The combination of cartel violence and stricter immigration policies creates uncertainty for immigrants, said Ingrid Eagly, a law professor at UCLA.

“Many people who are being deported right now have been living in the United States for 10 to 20 years,” he said. “And going back to a place they haven’t been since they were kids, a place where there’s all this violence, I think would cause more instability.”

He said general threats of cartel violence would not be enough for people to apply for asylum.

“This can complicate people’s ability to leave, even for a short period of time.”

Migration from Jalisco to California and other states dates back to the late 1800s with the construction and expansion of railroad systems in Mexico and the United States.

A soldier stands guard next to a charred vehicle that was set on fire in Cointzio, Mexico, following the death of “El Mencho” in February.

(Armando Solis / Associated Press)

The number of people migrating north increased as did the number of people fleeing the violence of the Mexican Revolution and the Cristero War. Bracero ProgramAccording to James Schmal Native Mexican, An online resource for Mexico’s Indigenous people, history and genealogy.

Jalisco, one of Mexico’s western states, is the birthplace of many Los Angeles staples: mariachi music, tequila, dark readings (rodeos) and Jalisco-style cuisines include: birria (spicy goat or beef stew) and torta ahogada (a Mexican sandwich dipped in salsa).

Los Angeles serves as an extension of the home Jalisciences, people who have had a significant impact on the formation of the city’s culinary and cultural landscape. Numerous restaurants bear the name of the state Birrieria Jalisco and Mariscos Jalisco. Mariachis are a major part of the city, playing at quinceañeras, weddings, birthday parties, and gathering at places like Olvera Street in downtown and Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights.

Although the number of people with roots in Jalisco is unknown, the state has been cited as one of the largest sources of Mexican immigration to California, with estimates suggesting that as many as 13 million people identify as being of Mexican descent. 2024 American Community Survey.

The connection goes in both directions. Thousands of American expats live in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and the communities along Lake Chapala, and many more American tourists visit.

This summer, Guadalajara will host some of the World Cup matches in Mexico, the USA and Canada. But the stadium is in Zapopan.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is trying to allay security concerns about the tournament.

“There is no risk,” Sheinbaum said at a Feb. 24 press conference. “Our goal is security and peace, and that’s what we’re working for.”

He reported that significant progress has been made in reducing violence in Mexico over the past year and a half, and that there has been a decrease in violence. Murder rates increased by 42% From September 2024 to January 2026.

But many people wonder how long relative peace can last.

Martinez pointed out that there was an increase in violence after the capture of Mexican and US officials. Ismail “El Mayo” Zambada And Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Former leaders of the Sinaloa cartel. He said violence often stops when a new leader emerges.

“This is something that is repeated in cartels,” he said.

For years, Jalisco has experienced low levels of violence compared to other Mexican states. However, this began to change around 2009 with the formation of the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG).

The cartel was one of two groups that broke away from the Milenio cartel, which had its roots in Michoacan and Jalisco in the late 1970s. A war for dominance ensued and the CJNG emerged victorious, taking control of the smuggling networks in the region.

The CJNG became known for its brutality and violent military-style tactics, carrying out deadly attacks against security forces, including the downing of an army helicopter using rocket-propelled grenades in 2015. There has been an increase in murders and kidnappings in Jalisco. A major supplier of fentanyl, the cartel also profits from human trafficking, extortion and fuel theft. The United States has designated it a foreign terrorist organization.

The uprising over Oseguera’s death underlined the cartel’s influence across Mexico.

When violence broke out last month, Martinez tried to find his grandfather, who was eventually found safe in Michoacan.

Gladdys’ friend, Elizabeth Uribe, checked on her parents throughout the day, as they took shelter in a hotel in Rincón de Guayabitos, a beach town not far from Puerto Vallarta.

He chose traditional news channels to avoid misinformation being shared by his family and on social media.

He said his nephew’s godmother was forced off the bus by cartel gunmen before the bus was set on fire. Even though her parents returned safely to the United States, she still worries about her father’s family in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

“They don’t have a choice, they just have to go back to work and hope everything will be okay,” he said.

Gladdys Uribe (center) with her daughters Ximena Bautista (left) and 14-year-old Shaila Bautista (14) in Los Angeles.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Gladdys Uribe said her parents drove to Etzatlán, where cartel gunmen and youths on motorcycles set fire to a gas station, a state-owned bank and dozens of vehicles. He said police and firefighters were nowhere to be seen.

He said that when his parents arrived in town, they saw people closing their businesses and running away. They checked into a hotel and waited for the violence to subside. Smoke was wafting into the room from the street, and they could hear gunshots and cars exploding in the distance.

Uribe registered his family on the site Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or STEP. The federal program sends enrollees updates and alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

Uribe and Elizabeth Uribe, who are not relatives, think Sheinbaum and other government officials were too quick to declare things were back to normal, providing a false sense of security.

“My mom and dad were angry,” he said. “Everyone was scared and still sheltering in place, so I got angry because I felt like we couldn’t trust what they were saying, like they were trying to protect tourism interests, like they were trying to protect the World Cup.”

They boarded a plane in Guadalajara on Thursday, and Uribe gave them a big hug as they walked through the front door of his Los Angeles home.

“I told them I would take their passports for a while,” he said, chuckling.

Sitting next to his daughters in the living room at home, Uribe said he was still processing what happened and reconsidering his relationship with Mexico.

“It was like a place that always had a special place in my heart,” he said. “I feel very rooted there and I always wanted it to be a part of my children’s lives.”

He said he canceled a family trip to Southern Mexico to celebrate his eldest daughter’s 15th birthday.

The past year has been difficult for many Latinos, especially Mexicans and Mexican Americans.

“Just like in Mexico, people are afraid of drugs, and here, even those born here, we are careful when leaving our homes,” he said. “We started carrying our passports.

“We’re not safe there and we’re not safe here either, in a different way of course.”