The United States has suspended all of its government activities in Mexico's Michoacan state, citing a "threat against American interests," according to a U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico security alert. The warning, issued August 5, designates Michoacan as a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' area due to risks of violence from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations.
This suspension includes the critical inspections of avocados destined for export to the U.S. Michoacan is Mexico's leading avocado-producing state, and these inspections are conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure exported produce is free of pests. Threats and violence against inspectors have led to similar suspensions in the past.
The U.S. Embassy did not specify the exact nature of the threat, but Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla stated on social media that the temporary halt to avocado inspections was a measure to protect workers following recent arrests linked to alleged extortion. Michoacan State Security Secretary Antonio Cruz confirmed one of the arrests was of "El Poncho," identified as Alfonso Fernández Magallón, a leader of a local cartel operating in the avocado-growing region around Los Reyes. In response to the situation, 300 security personnel were deployed to the Los Reyes area as a preventive measure.
In 2025, Mexico exported $3.65 billion worth of avocados to the United States, with exports rising 35% in the first four months of the current year compared to the same period in the previous year. Cartels in Michoacan, some designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. administration, not only engage in drug trafficking but also profit from extortion schemes, including within the avocado industry.
The decision comes amid broader diplomatic tensions, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently criticizing the U.S. government over alleged involvement in the 2024 abduction of former Sinaloa Cartel boss 'El Mayo' Zambada, accusing the U.S. of lying and violating Mexican sovereignty. The U.S. government had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Zambada's arrest.