Members of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco have had their US visas revoked after projecting an image of drug kingpin El Mencho during a live concert, igniting outrage from authorities.
US Visa Revocation for Mexican Band After Drug Kingpin Tribute
US Visa Revocation for Mexican Band After Drug Kingpin Tribute
The US State Department has revoked the visas of Los Alegres del Barranco due to their concert tribute to a notorious cartel leader.
The US State Department has taken the significant step of revoking the visas of Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco, following an incident where the group glorified a known drug kingpin. At a recent concert in Zapopan, Mexico, band members displayed an image of Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, alias El Mencho, while singing a song dedicated to him. El Mencho is recognized as the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has been classified as a "foreign terrorist organization" by the previous Trump administration as part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking in the United States.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau condemned the band's actions in a social media post, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that terrorists and criminals are not welcomed into the US. The band had previously found themselves in trouble with both Mexican and American officials because of the tribute to El Mencho, which was accompanied by lyrics recognizing him as a "man of war" devoted to his family.
Narcocorridos, or songs that celebrate drug lords, have become a common aspect of Mexican music, particularly within the norteña genre. Bands often perform at events hosted by cartel members, which affects the themes of their music. Los Alegres del Barranco has previously released songs glorifying other cartel figures, including Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The concert where they honored El Mencho occurred shortly after authorities uncovered a property linked to the CJNG, described as a disturbing training and extermination site. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly criticized the band for their actions and requested an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the lead singer of Los Alegres del Barranco appeared to relish the publicity, expressing gratitude for the support received following the controversy.
