US Revokes Visas of Mexican Band for Cartel Tribute at Concert

In a controversial move, the US State Department has revoked the visas of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco for glorifying drug kingpin El Mencho during a concert, which has drawn significant criticism from both American and Mexican officials.

The U.S. State Department has taken decisive action by revoking the visas of members from the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco following an incident that occurred at their recent concert. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that the band had projected an image of notorious drug kingpin El Mencho during their performance, thereby celebrating the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, heads one of the most feared drug trafficking organizations in the world, raising alarms within U.S. governmental circles, especially as the CJNG has been labeled a "foreign terrorist organization" under the Trump administration's counter-narcotics strategy. In a post on X, Landau emphasized the commitment of the U.S. to ensure that those who celebrate criminals are not granted access to the nation.

The contentious concert occurred in Zapopan, Mexico, on Saturday, where the band played a song venerating El Mencho as "a man of war who loves his family," alongside visuals that cozy up to the controversial figure. Narcocorridos—songs that often glorify drug lords—have penetrated Mexican music culture, leading to a fine line between artistic expression and criminal endorsement. Many norteña bands, including Los Alegres del Barranco, frequently perform at events hosted by individuals with cartel connections, raising concerns about the normalization of narcotics glorification in the music industry.

This is not the first time the band has courted controversy; they previously released a song about Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, chronicling his notorious rise to fame and wealth. The sensitive context surrounding this incident is magnified by recent discoveries in Mexico, where relatives of the disappeared found a ranch alleged to be a "training and extermination camp" for CJNG, filled with eerie remnants of past victims.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the band for their actions and vied for an investigation into the incident while the band's lead singer expressed enthusiasm at being mentioned in a government forum, showcasing a dissonance between public outcry and perceived validation. The ongoing symbiosis between narcocorridos and drug society continues to unravel complex layers of cultural and ethical issues within Mexico and the United States.