Mexican singer Julión Álvarez says his visa was revoked ahead of sold-out Texas show
Mexican singer Julión Álvarez says his visa was revoked ahead of sold-out Texas show
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Trump administration restores visa registrations for foreign students
The Trump administration restored visa registrations for potentially thousands of foreign students.
Mexican singer Julión Álvarez said his visa to enter the United States was revoked before a sold-out May 24 show at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
His group, Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda, had to postpone the evening concert at the Dallas Cowboys' Arlington stadium with nearly 50,000 tickets sold, according to a May 23 news release.
In a video posted to Instagram, Álvarez said he was told the morning of May 23 his work visa was canceled.
'It's not possible for us to go to the United States to fulfill our commitment to you,' Álvarez, 42, said in Spanish. 'It's a situation that's out of our hands.'
Concert promoter CMN and Álvarez's record label Copar Music said they were looking to reschedule the performance with tickets remaining valid, the AT&T Stadium news release said. They would work to refund tickets in the coming days.
'I apologize to all of you,' Álvarez, who is called King of the Ticket Office, said. "And God willing, we'll be in contact to share more information."
In an email response to USA TODAY, the U.S. State Department declined to comment on Álvarez's announcement, since visa records are confidential by law.
In recent years, Mexican artists have increased in popularity in the United States.
At the same time, narcocorridos, or drug ballads, have gained mainstream followings in Mexico and abroad, including in the United States. The style has drawn the ire of officials in Mexico and the United States.
Álvarez is the latest Mexican musician to say he had his visa revoked to perform in the country during the second Trump administration, as officials look to cut down on immigration.
Earlier this year, the State Department revoked the visas for band members of Los Alegres del Barranco after the band displayed an image of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," while performing a narcocorrido dedicated to him at their Guadalajara, Mexico, concert in late March. The group had a planned American tour.
In early April, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the department canceled Los Alegres' work and tourist visas for "glorifying" Oseguera Cervantes, who is head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The Trump administration has designated CJNG and other Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for an investigation of Los Alegres' concert. A spokesperson for the band defended their right to make their music freely, without punishment, in an interview with Billboard Español.
It wasn't immediately clear why Álvarez's visa had been revoked ahead of his May 24 show. An award-winning regional Mexican artist, Álvarez plays traditional corridos, or ballads, along with mariachi and cumbia. He's known for songs about love or heartbreak, such as 'El Amor De Su Vida' and 'Cero Empatía.'
In 2017, he had his visa revoked after the Treasury Department accused him and former Mexican professional soccer player Rafa Marquez of having ties to a drug trafficker identified under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. American officials accused them of acting as fronts to hold assets for the trafficker.
Álvarez denied the accusations. The designation had him banned from Spotify, Billboard reported.
In 2022, he was taken off the list, and Spotify allowed his music back on its platform, where he has nearly 17 million monthly listeners. Álvarez then was able to perform in the United States again.
In mid-April, Álvarez had three sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles after years of not playing in the country, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
From Braids to Bows, These Dads Love Doing Their Daughters' Hair
Strider Patton says there's one moment that makes all the hours of perfecting braids and bows and high ponies worth it. "Someone leans down to my daughter and says, 'Wow, your hair looks great today! Did your mommy do it?'" Patton, who teaches fathers how to style kids' hair on his popular @ Instagram account, tells His daughter Imogen was 2 years old at the time. "She turns around and points at me. She says, 'Dad braids.' And I was like, 'Yes! That's it!'" In the three years since that moment, Patton's hair styling skills have improved dramatically. Now he can do lace braids, bubble braids and even a double French high pony. And he has brought almost 250,000 followers on Instagram along for the ride. Patton is one of the many fathers who are taking on hairstyling duties and loving every brushstroke. The growing number of dads who do their daughters' hair with pride speaks to a change in the way fathers view their roles in the family, he says. He doesn't aim for perfection. He aims for presence. "It doesn't matter how bad your hair (styling) is," Patton says. "Your daughter's just going to love that you're there with her." When he was first struggling with his Imogen's hair, Patton searched for hair tutorials online but most featured moms doing their daughters' hair. They sailed too quickly through the basic steps that Patton still needed to learn. So Patton started an Instagram account for dads who didn't know where to begin. He set up a camera and shared videos of him doing Imogen's hair every morning. As a professional artist, he had a more flexible schedule than his wife, who owns a children's theater. "It's just so fun to not be an expert and just be like, 'Hey, I'm just a dad trying to learn how to do this, just like you guys.'" Patton certainly isn't alone on his journey. chatted with several dads who have surpassed their wives' hairstyling skills. And they're not just tooting their own horn — their wives volunteered them for interviews. Shounak Shah, who says his daughter Arya is "6 going on 15," shares that if he lets Arya choose a parent to style her hair, "she would pick me, 100 percent." He jokes, "Mommy is not the styling type." Shah, a physical therapist, will call out to Arya, "It's salon time!" and she sits at a little desk and watches a show while Shah adds product and styles her hair. Dad Jon Studham plays 'Baby Alive' for his 5-year-old while he styles her hair every morning. "I was terrible at first, but she didn't care," he says. "It isn't about getting every strand in place. It's about showing up, being part of her rhythm, building the moments in life that matter and showing she can count on me." He continues, 'One day, she won't need or want me to do her hair. But until then, I'll be there — with a brush, a bow, and all the time she needs.' "I love finding ways to bond with my kids in so many different ways, and doing hair was just one of those creative outlets," says Scott Wormser, who heads up the marketing department at a print shop. He is so adept at doing his 10-year-old daughter Marni's hair that he's even in charge of her styles for dance competitions, which are often difficult and specific ... and must stay intact throughout an energetic routine. "My wife would always try to do a braid on my daughter's hair, and she just wouldn't get it as tight as I could." Wormser laughs, "And I definitely have much more patience than my wife." Patton points out that the sheer number of dads who have taken on hair duty suggests a change in our outlook on modern fatherhood. "For quarter of a million dads out there, it's saying that I care enough to try something new," he says. "It's hard, but it's fun, and it means something. And it gives me a moment, every day, with my girl." Patton sums it up by adding, "At the heart of this, it's really simple: dads want to connect with their daughters, but a lot of us don't always know how. We're better with tools than tea parties, better with our hands than with our feelings. Learning to braid brings those two worlds together." This article was originally published on
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Were Seated with the Same Last Name at a Special Table at Recent Wedding — All the Details
The seating placards for a recent wedding that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attended were addressed to "Taylor and Travis Kelce" The wedding planner behind the Tennessee nuptials revealed the seat assignments on Instagram The news comes amid the recent success of Swift buying back her mastersThe wedding planner behind the Tennessee wedding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce recently attended dropped an Easter egg of her own — that the couple's seat assignments were addressed to "Taylor and Travis Kelce." The photo of the seat assignment, shared by wedding planner Ellie Nottoli on Instagram Monday, June 9, also revealed that the couple was placed at table 13 — famously Swift's lucky number, which she used to paint on her hand for live performances during her early touring years. Other photos offered a behind-the-scenes look at the sky blue and butter yellow spring wedding color palette, as well as the setup of the whimsical outdoor wedding, including the blue hydrangea centerpieces. PEOPLE reached out to Nottoli for comment, but did not immediately hear back. The couple stepped out for the wedding in Tennessee on Friday, June 6. Photos and videos quickly circulated online after one attendee posted a snap of Swift talking to fellow wedding attendees with the caption, 'not taylor swift being at my friends friends cousins wedding." In additional photos and videos shared by guests at the ceremony, Swift, 35, wore a blue floral midi dress paired with brown platform sandals and her natural blonde waves. Kelce, 35, wore a striped button-down shirt, brown slacks, and black shoes. The "Fortnight" singer was seen spending time outdoors with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and their fellow wedding guests. Fans took to social media after Nottoli shared wedding details on social media — including the seat assignments for Swift and Kelce. One reposted an image of the invitation to X, and wrote: "TABLE 13????? TAYLOR AND TRAVIS KELCE????😭😭😭 THIS IS SO SERIOUS😭😭." Another added, "TAYLOR AND TRAVIS KELCE?!????? EXUSE ME." While a third wondered, "should i say congratulations? 🤫💍" Swift and Kelce's appearance at the wedding came shortly after the news of Swift acquiring her first six masters from Shamrock Capital after they were previously purchased by Scooter Braun. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The 14-time Grammy winner announced in an Instagram post that she regained control of her first six albums, directing fans to a handwritten letter posted to her website. "Hi. I'm trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, but right now my mind is just a slideshow," Swift wrote in the opening of the letter. "A flashback sequence of all the times I daydreamed about, wished for, and pined away for a chance to get to tell you this news. All the times I was thiiiiiiiiiiiiis close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled then yanked away. But that's all in the past now," she continued. Read the original article on People
Black America Web
an hour ago
- Black America Web
10 Jams To Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month
Caribbean-American Heritage Month, celebrated every June, honors the rich contributions of Caribbean-Americans to the United States. From politics to sports, and especially music, their impact has left an indelible mark on American culture. This month invites the nation to recognize and celebrate the vibrant traditions, history, and talent of Caribbean-American communities. One of the most influential areas of Caribbean-American expression is music. Genres like reggae, calypso, and dancehall have taken root in the U.S., influencing hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Through their rhythmic energy and lyrical depth, these artists embody the essence of Caribbean-American culture. Their music bridges generations and inspires listeners worldwide. Here's a list of 10 unforgettable songs by Caribbean-American musicians, showcasing their diverse nationalities. 10 Jams To Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month was originally published on 1. Harry Belafonte – 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' Nationality: Jamaican 2. Johnny Kemp – 'Just Got Paid' Nationality: Bahamian 3. Maxwell – 'Lifetime' Nationality: Haitian & Puerto Rican 4. Fridayy – 'When It Comes To You' Nationality: Haitian 5. Nicki Minaj – 'Moment 4 Life' Nationality: Trinidadian 6. Heavy D – Big Daddy Nationality: Jamaican 7. Busta Rhymes – 'In The Ghetto' Nationality: Jamaican 8. Wyclef Jean – 'Gone Till November' Nationality: Haitian 9. Lenny Kravitz – 'It Ain't Over Til It's Over' Nationality: Bahamian 10. The Notorious B.I.G. – 'Juicy' Nationality: Jamaican
