In a recent development, the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco faced the revocation of their US visas for allegedly glorifying a known drug kingpin, Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, also referred to as El Mencho, during a performance in Mexico.
Mexican Band Los Alegres del Barranco's US Visas Revoked for Promoting Drug Cartel Leader
Mexican Band Los Alegres del Barranco's US Visas Revoked for Promoting Drug Cartel Leader
The US State Department has taken action against a Mexican band after they celebrated a notorious cartel leader during a concert.
The US State Department has officially revoked the visas of members of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco for allegedly glorifying notorious drug kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, known as El Mencho. This decision was made public by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who condemned the band's actions during a concert in Zapopan, Mexico, where they displayed an image of El Mencho while performing a song that praises him as “a man of war who loves his family.” This incident raised concerns, especially since El Mencho leads the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a group recently designated as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the Trump administration.
In his remarks posted on X, Landau emphasized that the administration takes seriously its responsibility regarding who is granted entry into the United States, highlighting the importance of not providing a platform for individuals who promote criminal activities. The band's display not only drew scrutiny from American authorities but also evoked criticism from Mexican officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, who called for an investigation into the incident.
Narcocorridos, a music genre that praises drug lords, resonates strongly within parts of Mexican culture, with bands often accepting payment from drug traffickers to glamorize their lives. Previously, Los Alegres del Barranco has been known to perform songs that exalt other cartel leaders, including Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The controversial concert took place shortly after alarming discoveries regarding the CJNG were made, including a ranch described as a training camp for recruits, where items such as abandoned shoes and bone fragments were found, raising further concern about the cartel's brutality. Despite the backlash, the band's singer expressed pride and gratitude for the attention received during the president's press conference, showcasing the band's controversial intersection with Mexico’s narcotic culture and its impact on their career.
