In brief
The US State Department has cancelled the visas of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco for glorifying Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader El Mencho during a concert, amidst a broader crackdown on narcocorridos.
The US State Department has revoked the visas of the Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco due to their alleged "glorification of a drug kingpin." Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that the band projected an image of El Mencho, the leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during a recent concert in Zapopan, Mexico. Known for its brutality, the CJNG has been labeled a "foreign terrorist organization" under the Trump administration's strategy to dismantle such groups in the US.In a statement on social media platform X, Landau emphasized the administration's commitment to restricting access to individuals who promote criminal behavior. "(We) take seriously our responsibility over foreigners' access to our country," he noted, criticizing any gestures that seem to celebrate criminals and terrorists.Los Alegres del Barranco was set to perform in several US states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, and California. Their music has a substantial following among Mexican-Americans, especially in regions with significant Latino populations. The band’s troubles began when they displayed the image of El Mencho while performing a song that praises him, referring to his cartel only by the initials "CJNG." The emergence of narcocorridos—songs that celebrate drug lords—has become a fixture in the Mexican music scene, with many norteño bands, which blend catchy lyrics with polka rhythms and instruments like the accordion and bajo sexto, frequently receiving compensation from drug traffickers to create such songs. This culture means that many bands get their initial gigs from private parties hosted by cartel associates.The controversial song celebrating El Mencho is not unique in the band's repertoire; they also have tracks like "The 701," which eulogizes Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, detailing his notorious status before his imprisonment. This particular concert and the imagery that accompanied it followed an unsettling revelation of a ranch linked to the CJNG, discovered by families searching for missing persons, which authorities denounced as a site for training and executing captives.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the incident, asserting that such glorification should not occur and called for an investigation into the matter. Following her remarks, the band's lead singer shared his excitement in a TikTok video, acknowledging the public support despite the backlash and controversy surrounding their performances. As the struggle with drug violence continues in Mexico, the interplay between music and narcotrafficking remains a contentious topic, igniting conversations about morality and artistic expression.
