Popular Mexican-regional music band Grupo Firme announced Friday that it was canceling performances at California music festivals over the weekend after the US government suspended musicians’ visas.
It comes after the US State Department cancels visas for many Mexican musicians to perform a genre of music they say praise the cartel violence.
The group, who has surged to international fame playing Mexican regional music, said in a statement posted on their Instagram account that their visas and their teams are currently undergoing “management review by the US Embassy,” becoming “impossible” at La Onda Fest and “impossible” to be held in the city of Napa Valley.
The US embassy in Mexico said the visa cases are confidential in accordance with US law and cannot provide further information about the case.
The pause is the latest in a series of moves where President Donald Trump is targeting Mexican artists of the genre. The “narco-oridos” genre has sparked controversy, but much of the music also speaks to the harsh reality facing Mexican youths who are caught up in cartel violence.
Two months ago, Mexican music group Los Alegress del Baranco was approved after predicting the image of the Jalisco New Generation’s cartel leader, feared at a concert in western Jalisco.
“I am a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free from the outcome,” said U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the time. “The last thing you need is a welcome mat for those who praise criminals and terrorists.”
However, Grupo Firme has taken steps in recent months to distance himself from the genre side of the music that praises criminal groups, and announced in April shortly after the controversy that such music would not be sung at concerts.
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