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The United States has confirmed the revocation of visas for members of the Mexican band after they put up images of a notorious cartel leader who is wanted by the United States and Mexico.
Some shit you should know before you read: Last weekend, during a concert at the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara (Mexico), the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco sparked some outrage after projecting an illustrated image of El Mencho, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), onto a giant screen while performing a song that glorified him as a “man of war.” The performance was part of their “Los Señores del Corrido” tour and also included a segment honoring El Chapo, featuring his mugshot as the backdrop to another song. These songs, which are known for romanticizing drug lords and cartel violence, were accompanied by visuals that appeared to glorify the criminal figures.
What’s happening now: According to the Department of Homeland Security, the individuals who had their visas revoked include band members Armando Moreno Álvarez, José Pavel Moreno Serrano, José Carlos Moreno Álvarez, and Cristóbal Reyes López. All four are from San José del Barranco in Badiraguato, Sinaloa — a region long associated with drug trafficking figures such as El Chapo. The band had scheduled more than a dozen performances across the United States, including stops in Texas and California. Those concerts have since been canceled due to the visa revocations.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the decision on social media, stating, “I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences.” Referring to the performance that featured cartel imagery, he added, “The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.” Landau noted that the Trump administration is serious about controlling foreign access to the country, especially for those who appear to promote violence or organized crime.
Band reacts: In a statement on Facebook, the band said they offered “sincere apologies for what happened during our presentation last March 29th at the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara. As a musical group, it was never our intention to generate controversy, let alone cause offense.” They added, “We recognize that as artists we have a great responsibility towards our audiences, especially with the new generations following our music. We are deeply sorry that some portion of the show was perceived as offensive or inappropriate. We reaffirm that our music is inspired to tell popular stories within Mexican music. We will take stricter measures on the visual and narrative content of our shows. We thank our fans for their unconditional support throughout all these years and reiterate our commitment to continue working with humility, and respect.”
