US Revokes Visas of Mexican Band for Promoting Drug Lord in Concert

In a recent concert, the Mexican norteño band Los Alegres del Barranco projected an image of notorious drug lord El Mencho, leading the U.S. State Department to revoke their visas. The band, known for their controversial narcocorridos, now faces significant backlash from both U.S. and Mexican authorities.

The U.S. State Department has taken a firm stance against Los Alegres del Barranco, a popular Mexican band, by revoking the visas of its members after they were accused of glorifying drug kingpin El Mencho during a concert. The decision was announced by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, following an incident where an image of El Mencho—real name Nemesio Oseguera Ramos—was projected on a large screen during the band's performance in Zapopan, Mexico. El Mencho leads the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which was recently classified as a "foreign terrorist organization" by the Trump administration as part of efforts to counteract violent transnational drug trafficking.

Landau expressed in a social media post that the U.S. government is serious about regulating foreign entries, especially when individuals or groups "extol criminals and terrorists." Los Alegres del Barranco had lined up a series of concerts in various U.S. states, including Texas and California, appealing to Mexican-American communities with their music. However, the controversy emerged when the band showcased El Mencho's image while playing a song that commends him as a "man of war who loves his family," subtly alluding to CJNG.

Narcocorridos, or songs that celebrate drug cartel figures, are popular within the norteño genre, though they often attract scrutiny from law enforcement. Many musicians in this space have histories of financial entanglement with drug lords, capitalizing on private events linked to the cartels. This incident comes amid troubling reports of a ranch linked to the CJNG, described as a "training and extermination camp," which exacerbates the sensitivity surrounding the narrative the band employed.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum voiced her disapproval of the band's actions at a press conference, urging a thorough investigation into the incident. In a surprising twist, the band's lead singer acknowledged the president's comments in a TikTok video, branding it "cool" and expressing gratitude for the support from fans. The growing controversy indicates a complex relationship between music, culture, and the violent backdrop of drug cartels in Mexico, and its resonance across borders in the United States.