International travelers face new challenges planning trips to the U.S. due to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. While the full economic impact on tourism is still unclear, the entertainment industry is already feeling the effects. In particular, regional Mexican music artists with planned U.S. tours are encountering significant setbacks.
Griselda Flores, senior editor at Billboard, recently highlighted the struggles facing this emerging music genre. She shared with the Texas Standard how some musicians are affected and what the future might hold for the industry.
Flores explained that the trouble began when Christopher Landau from the State Department tweeted about the cancellation of work visas for Los Alegres del Barranco. The band was targeted because their music and imagery referenced a narco cartel leader. This move was the first time the U.S. government took such a clear stance against narco corrido artists, who often sing about and glorify cartels.
Soon after, more artists in this genre were impacted. The most notable case is Julión Álvarez, a long-standing regional Mexican artist who was once the top box office draw in the U.S. His visa was revoked in 2018 due to issues with the U.S. Treasury. Although cleared in 2022 and having announced a comeback tour, Álvarez was suddenly stopped from traveling to Texas. He was at the Guadalajara airport, ready to board, when officials informed him his visa had been revoked. This shocked the industry because Álvarez is the biggest name in the genre, and his travel ban signals a deeper problem.
Fans have shown some understanding of the situation given the current political climate, but industry leaders are growing concerned. The issue is no longer just about immigration—it’s an economic problem. Promoter Henry Cárdenas from CMN estimated losses of $2 million each weekend due to canceled shows like Álvarez’s.
Immigration lawyers admit the situation is unprecedented. Usually, visa revocations have clear reasons, but in this case, artists lose visas because of their music genre or lyrics. The reasons given are vague, often citing “administrative processing” with no detailed explanation. Lawyers say artists must reapply for visas but face uncertainty about approval, timing, or criteria.
For the broader music industry, especially touring musicians from Mexico, the outlook is troubling. Many promoters are looking to shift tours to other countries or focus on American-born artists, sidelining Mexican artists from the U.S. touring scene. This shift risks losing fans, revenue, and stalls the growth of a vibrant musical movement that has gained significant popularity in the U.S. and worldwide. The impact on regional Mexican music is profound and signals serious challenges ahead.
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