U.S. immigration authorities revoked the visas of Mexican band members after they projected an image of a notorious cartel leader during a live performance.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. State Department canceled the visas of the Mexican group Los Alegres del Barranco due to glorifying a cartel leader during a concert.
- The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
- Investigation into the musicians’ actions includes potential charges for advocating criminal activities.
- The controversial event led to national and international scrutiny.
Visa Revocation Sparks Backlash
The U.S. State Department revoked visas for four members of the Mexican group Los Alegres del Barranco. The decision followed their controversial act of displaying images of cartel figure Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” during a concert in Zapopan, Jalisco. This act of publicly glorifying a criminal leader was met with immediate backlash, resulting in an investigation by Mexican authorities for potentially promoting criminal actions.
“I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences. A Mexican band, Los Alegres del Barranco, portrayed images glorifying drug kingpin ‘El Mencho’ — head of the grotesquely violent CJNG cartel — at a recent concert… I’m pleased to announce that the State Department has revoked the band members’ work and tourism visas,” United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also commented.
The musicians doubled down on their stance by repeating the performance in Uruapan, Michoacan. The local authorities are considering federal charges, as advocating crime is not directly addressed in the Michoacan penal code. Meanwhile, the U.S. has classified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, further complicating the musicians’ legal standing both in Mexico and the U.S.
Mexican Authorities Take Action
The performance not only sparked controversy but also resulted in the Mexican government’s intervention. President Claudia Sheinbaum and Jalisco’s governor responded with condemnation, urging proactive measures to prevent glorification of criminal activity. The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the actions, emphasizing the importance of addressing crime advocacy in media events, especially concerts attended by large crowds.
The venue where the event took place, Auditorio Telmex, has distanced itself from the band, acknowledging the potential impact of their actions and denying knowledge of the planned visuals. The band’s portrayal has also come amid rising reports of cartel recruitment methods, emphasizing the complicated relationship between certain music forms and organized crime.
Fallout and Future Performances
Los Alegres del Barranco had been scheduled to perform at various events in the U.S., including the Bésame Mucho festival in Austin, Texas. Pavel Morales, a band member, dismissed the criticisms as misunderstandings, claiming their audience’s support remains steadfast. The band’s notoriety has certainly grown, but their future in the U.S. is now uncertain, given the gravity of their actions and the strong diplomatic implications.
Investigations continue, with the legal challenges facing the musicians likely to set precedents in how international laws intersect with expressions of cultural identity and crime glorification. As federal and state-level authorities scrutinize such performances, the balance between freedom of expression and public safety remains critical in policy discussions.
Sources
1. U.S. Cancels Visas for Mexican Group After Showing Cartel Leader Photos in Concert
2. U.S. Revokes Visas of Mexican Musicians Whose Show Praised Cartel Boss
