Rescue Teams Aid Americans in Puerto Vallarta Chaos
As cartel violence shakes Mexico after El Mencho’s death, veteran-led Project DYNAMO opens evacuation requests, plans rescue help for Americans at risk
Violence and fear have erupted across parts of Mexico after security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Retaliatory attacks by cartel fighters sparked road blockades, burning vehicles, and gun battles that have disrupted travel and left some Americans stranded in destinations like Puerto Vallarta.
Amid this unrest, Project DYNAMO, a U.S.-based veteran-led rescue organization, is stepping in to assist Americans who have contacted its teams from Puerto Vallarta and other affected areas. The nonprofit has opened evacuation request intake on its website and is preparing for potential operations to help people safely exit danger zones.
ALPolitics.com reached out to AL-01 Congressional candidate Joshua McKee — who recently worked with Project DYNAMO teams during the post-Hurricane Melissa crisis in Jamaica — for more information about the ongoing situation and rescue efforts in Mexico. McKee told us on Monday that:
“On Sunday morning, as soon as we saw reports of cartel violence in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, we immediately reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and began coordinating efforts to conduct evacuations of Americans. As of right now we have one team member already in the region and more that will be landing in Mexico in the next hour. We have already received over 100 requests for evacuation and/or support, and are in the process of staging so that we can begin evacuations. All Americans in the area are advised to shelter in place and fill out an evacuation request form at projectdynamo.net as well as registering with the State Department STEP program. As far as we are aware, Project DYNAMO is the very first humanitarian organization to reach out to the embassy and put boots on the ground.”
Project DYNAMO’s LinkedIn post states the group is closely tracking the evolving situation in Puerto Vallarta, in ongoing communication with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and other partners to maintain real-time situational awareness. The organization says it is “preparing safe evacuation routes for American citizens and allied foreign nationals” and encourages those in need to complete an evacuation request online. Its guidance also mirrors official safety advice: stay indoors, avoid unnecessary movement, and keep essential documents and supplies ready should evacuation become necessary.
The nonprofit is not new to complex rescue missions. Founded in 2021 by combat veterans and first responders, Project DYNAMO has coordinated evacuations and relief operations in places where traditional responses lagged, including war zones and disaster-stricken regions. The group has extracted thousands of Americans and allies from crisis situations — from Afghanistan to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa — and delivered aid and evacuations with teams of seasoned operators and pilots.
In the Caribbean, for example, Project DYNAMO’s teams flew more than 20 flights using multiple aircraft to deliver relief supplies and evacuate stranded Americans out of Montego Bay following devastating storms. Ground crews and aerial assets supported search-and-rescue missions, and the first evacuee flights reached Key West, Florida with stranded U.S. citizens aboard.
The organization’s experience in coordinating complex, rapid responses could prove crucial if conditions in Puerto Vallarta deteriorate further or if safe corridors for evacuations are negotiated with Mexican authorities. As one public post from the group noted, the situation in Puerto Vallarta remains “very fluid”, with ongoing assessments and planning efforts focused on safety and timing of potential rescues.
Travel disruptions and safety alerts have already impacted the region’s transportation networks. After the violence began, some flights were canceled and shelter-in-place advisories issued for Americans in Jalisco and neighboring states. While some restrictions have been eased, curfews and warnings remain in place, and many Americans are still advised to monitor conditions closely.
For U.S. citizens in Mexico who feel unsafe or wish to explore evacuation options with Project DYNAMO, the organization’s website currently hosts evacuation request forms and guidance on next steps at THIS LINK.
