In a strong stand against glorification of criminal violence, the Trump administration has revoked the U.S. visas of Los Alegres del Barranco, a Mexican band known for its narcocorridos — songs that romanticize drug cartels and their leaders.
The group was slated to perform in San Francisco’s South Bay area on April 29, but that plan was shut down after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau took decisive action. Citing a recent performance in Mexico where the band “portrayed images glorifying drug kingpin ‘El Mencho’ — head of the grotesquely violent CJNG cartel,” Landau declared on X, “I’m pleased to announce that the State Department has revoked the band members’ work and tourism visas.”
While Landau acknowledged his support for free speech, he made it clear that liberty doesn’t mean impunity. “I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences,” he wrote.
He added, “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 CJNG cartel, led by El Mencho, is notorious for its brutality, trafficking, and violence. Los Alegres del Barranco has become a fixture in the controversial “narcocorrido” genre — a form of music that many critics say celebrates the worst elements of Mexican drug culture.
Landau’s decision has been met with praise from many conservatives online. When a user posted “FAFO” (“F*** Around and Find Out”), Landau quipped, “I was thinking about including that to my post but thought I was already venturing far enough outside the conventional diplomatic box that I didn’t want heads to explode.”
The band responded to the visa cancellation with a defensive statement, saying, “It was never our intention to generate controversy, let alone cause offense. We will take more stringent measures regarding the visual and narrative content of our performances.”
This move by the Trump administration sends a clear message: the U.S. will not be a stage for those who glorify drug lords and criminal empires.
