U.S. halts operations in Mexicali amid security threat

U.S. officials halted government operations and barred travel to a Mexican border city earlier this week after receiving intelligence on a looming security threat. Mexicali, sitting directly opposite Calexico, California, became the focus of a fresh alert once authorities flagged potential danger. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a statement confirming that all official activities within the city and any movement into it stopped on August 25.

"We are alerting U.S. citizens of this potential threat," the embassy declared in its announcement. Officials told Americans to steer clear of government buildings in Mexicali and keep their eyes open for anything suspicious. They also urged people to find shelter if an incident occurred, obey orders from Mexican law enforcement officers, and tell family members they are safe immediately. "Follow instructions from Mexican law enforcement," the statement continued, adding that travelers should watch local news outlets for breaking updates.

The specific danger involved a possible armed strike by Los Rusos, a criminal group targeting police facilities in Mexicali, according to UPI reports. This warning arrived just days after Mexican authorities pulled roughly 265 pounds of fentanyl from a warehouse in the same city. Sources estimate that seizure represented about four million doses of the powerful opioid.

State Department officials spoke with Fox News Digital early Friday afternoon to say the suspension is now over and government functions have restarted. However, they noted the broader travel advisory for Baja California stays at Level 3. Officials still urge Americans to think twice before visiting the region due to risks from terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Mexicali serves as the capital of Baja California and acts as a major gateway along the border, though it is not a top tourist spot.

More than 5.4 million personal vehicles and 3.1 million pedestrians crossed into the U.S. through Calexico in 2025 based on federal transportation data. Fox News Digital tried to reach the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana for more details but did not receive a response immediately. This warning unfolds while Mexico struggles with ongoing cartel violence and organized crime networks. Earlier this year, cruise ships skipped Puerto Vallarta after a surge of killings following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho." The unrest forced U.S. security warnings and shelter-in-place orders in several Mexican cities before those restrictions were lifted days later.