The U.S. State Department has revoked the visas of members of a Mexican band, Los Alegres del Barranco, for "glorifying a drug kingpin."
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau explained that the band had displayed an image of El Mencho during a recent concert in Mexico.
El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, is the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most dangerous transnational drug trafficking organizations.
The CJNG is among the eight criminal groups recently designated as "foreign terrorist organizations" by the Trump administration, which is working to eliminate these groups from U.S. territory.
In a post on X, Landau emphasized that "in the Trump Administration, we take seriously our responsibility over foreigners' access to our country." He added, "the last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists."
Los Alegres del Barranco were scheduled to perform in multiple U.S. states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, and California. Their music, alongside that of other norteño bands, has a strong following in the U.S., especially in Mexican-American communities.
The band came under scrutiny from both U.S. and Mexican authorities on Saturday after projecting an image of El Mencho during a concert in Zapopan, Mexico.
The image was displayed while they performed a song that praises him as "a man of war who loves his family" and celebrates his role as the leader of the "cartel with four letters," a reference to the CJNG.
Narcocorridos, songs that glorify drug cartel leaders, are not unusual in Mexico. Many norteña bands, which feature catchy lyrics and polka-inspired rhythms, are often paid by drug lords to compose such songs. Early in their careers, many of these bands play at private parties hosted by individuals with cartel connections.
The song dedicated to El Mencho is just one of several narcocorridos in Los Alegres del Barranco's repertoire. Another, titled "The 701," is about Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the notorious leader of the Sinaloa cartel. The song praises him for his wealth and influence, referencing his rise to number 701 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people.
The concert where the band projected El Mencho’s image took place just weeks after relatives of missing persons discovered a ranch allegedly used by the CJNG as a "training and extermination camp."
Authorities found hundreds of abandoned shoes, suitcases, and bone fragments, suggesting the cartel had used the site to recruit and kill individuals, often by force or deception.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the band’s actions. During a morning news briefing, she stated, "This shouldn't happen, it's not right," and ordered an investigation.
The singer of Los Alegres del Barranco seemed unfazed by the controversy. In a TikTok video, he expressed excitement about the band’s mention in the president's press conference and thanked fans for their continued support.
