Events in Mexico may seem far away to some, but as a border city and community, many Cavers have connections south, be those distant or immediate. When violence erupts in response to the killing of the infamous cartel leader “El Mencho” who was killed by Mexican military forces during a raid in February 2026, some Cavers have good reason to be concerned.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, commonly called “El Mencho,” was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His death was followed by violence in some parts of Mexico due both to reprisals and to contention for control. At least 70 people have died as result of the ensuing violence. It is difficult to estimate at this early stage just how much the destruction of property will end up being. Businesses are being shut down, citizens are hiding in their homes, and schools are closed.
When asked for his insight, Social Sciences teacher Mr. Croom, “said that El Mencho’s death was considered a major moment in Mexico’s fight against organized crime because, “it seems as if he was running one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico and his tactics were particularly brutal.” He added that Mencho’s Jalisco Nuevo’s cartel “had a lot more power than most of the other cartels in Mexico.”
While it might not seem like these matters can impact average people, changes in cartel leadership can significantly impact the daily lives of those not directly involved in the drug trade. Mr. Croom said that, “if you get a cartel leader that’s a lot more violent and wants to use violence, and is totally unafraid to use violence to accomplish their ends, there’s definitely a lot of people who get murdered in the streets.”
A Caver student who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of violence said that “these leaders feed off of the fear in the community. They pay off the Mexican government so they can conduct what they want to accomplish without being in trouble. These cartel leaders prey on the citizens in Mexico so they can do whatever they want to do.”
With members of the community who might have family in Mexico, or might return to Mexico regularly themselves, the rise of cartel violence raises a legitimate fear of being hurt due to these seemingly random acts of violence.
