State Department Revokes Visas Of Mexican Band, Accuses Them Of ‘Glorifying Drug Kingpin’ At Concert

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau issued a statement April 3 on X saying the State Department revoked visas held by members of a Mexican band.

Landau accused the band of Los Alegres del Barranco, of “glorifying a drug kingpin” when they projected an image of El Mencho onto a screen at a recent concert in Mexico. El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, is the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered to be one of the most feared transnational drug trafficking gangs. The Trump administration recently declared the CJNG as one of the eight criminal groups operating as “foreign terrorist organizations.”

I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences. A Mexican band, “Los Alegres del Barranco,” portrayed images glorifying drug kingpin “El Mencho” — head of the grotesquely violent CJNG cartel — at a recent concert… pic.twitter.com/neSIib7EC4

— Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) April 2, 2025

“I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences,” Landau wrote on X.

“I’m pleased to announce that the State Department has revoked the band members’ work and tourism visas.”

Landau continued, “In the Trump Administration, we take seriously our responsibility over foreigners’ access to our country. The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.”

The band’s visas were revoked following widespread outrage in Mexico over the concert.

Prosecutors in two states launched investigations into the projected images, according to The Canadian Press.

The BBC reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the band in a morning news conference, saying “this shouldn’t happen, it’s not right,” and ordered a investigation. (RELATED: ‘The Border Is Closed’: Trump Admin Claims Historic Low In Migrant Crossings)

The singer of Los Alegres del Barranco appeared pleased about his band’s name being mentioned during the president’s news conference, according to the BBC.

Editor’s note: headline altered to reflect that they were in Mexico at the time of the incident.