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The laser visas for 1,000 Tamaulipas families who wanted to come shopping in the Rio Grande Valley for Christmas may be on hold.

The American Consulate in Matamoros is postponing an event to process 1,000 tourist visa applications following a series of gun battles that ended with the death of Gulf Cartel leader Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen.

The Consulate had been promoting its "Dia de Comunidad" event since late October but announced shortly after 11 p.m. Friday that the event would be rescheduled.

Consulate officials reported that they were holding the event ahead of the busy Christmas holiday season and to minimize the annual rush for laser visa applications.

U.S. Consul Michael Barkin, Matamoros Mayor Erick Silva and others were expected to participate in the day-long event, which was supposed to be held at the consulate.

A consulate press release said a new date and time for the event would be announced in a future announcement.

Consulate Warning

Consulate officials did not respond to inquiries about how the violence has affected their operations but issued a warden's message around 6 p.m Friday asking American citizens to be careful.

The consulate is restricting travel for American personnel at the Consulate and their families from residential areas between midnight and 6 a.m.

The message asked other American citizens in the Matamoros consular district ti consider adopting these travel restrictions for themselves.

The consulate message asks Americans to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times.

Fallen Drug Lord

The cancelation of Saturday's laser visa event followed hours after Gulf Cartel's leader was killed in a battle with Mexican Navy forces in downtown Matamoros around 7:35 p.m. Friday.

Cardenas-Guillen's death was preceded by almost eight hours of gun battles throughout the city.

Mexican government officials reported that seven soldiers, marines, cartel members and one journalist were killed in the violence but unofficial number put the death toll closer to 50.