Assuming cooperation with the Mexican government, the USA would likely launch several raids against cartel strongholds similar to the Maduro raid. Whether the cartel leaders are brought to justice or just immediately assassinated is up for grabs, but I expect several extrajudicial killings.
The situation will devolve as the power vacuum causes additional killings including some punishing of the Mexican federal government. This destabilization is likely going to require an occupation; I expect that the USA would want Mexico to fill those posts first but may get pulled in as the Mexican military runs out of logistical capacity and the US military has to start filling in more and more gaps.
At a point, the war against the cartels becomes viewed as an American occupation instead of an internal Mexican action and it causes the population to turn against both federal governments.
Messy urban warfare.
Assuming cooperation with the Mexican government, the USA would likely launch several raids against cartel strongholds similar to the Maduro raid. Whether the cartel leaders are brought to justice or just immediately assassinated is up for grabs, but I expect several extrajudicial killings.
The situation will devolve as the power vacuum causes additional killings including some punishing of the Mexican federal government. This destabilization is likely going to require an occupation; I expect that the USA would want Mexico to fill those posts first but may get pulled in as the Mexican military runs out of logistical capacity and the US military has to start filling in more and more gaps.
At a point, the war against the cartels becomes viewed as an American occupation instead of an internal Mexican action and it causes the population to turn against both federal governments.