Mexican band Grupo Firme cancels US show, says visas suspended by Trump administration
The popular Mexican regional music band Grupo Firme announced on Friday that it was canceling a performance in a music festival in California over the weekend after the United States government suspended the musicians' visas.
It comes after the US State Department has revoked visas of a number of Mexican musicians for playing a genre of music that it says glorifies cartel violence.
The group, which has soared to international fame playing Mexican regional music, said in a statement posted on its Instagram account that the visas of them and their team are currently under 'administrative review by the US Embassy' and that it would make it 'impossible' for them to perform in the La Onda Fest to be held in the city of Napa Valley, California on June 1.
But the post didn't detail what it would mean in the long term for the musical group.
The US Embassy in Mexico and the State Department said that visa cases are confidential according to US law and couldn't provide more information on the case.
The suspension is just the latest in a series of moves the administration of US President Donald Trump has taken targeting Mexican artists in the genre, who in some cases have glorified the leaders of cartels as sort of Robin Hood figures.
While the genre of 'narco-corridos' has stirred controversy, much of the music also speaks to the harsh realities facing Mexican youth caught in cartel violence.
Two months ago, the Mexican musical group Los Alegres del Barranco was sanctioned after it projected images of the leader of the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel at a concert in the western state of Jalisco.
'I'm a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn't mean that expression should be free of consequences,' US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said at the time.
'The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.'
But Grupo Firme has taken steps in recent months to distance itself from the facet of the musical genre glorifying criminal groups, announcing in April shortly after the controversy that it would not sing such music in concerts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Approval Rating Remains Underwater With Republican Pollster
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's approval rating remains underwater, according to a poll conducted by a Republican-leaning pollster. The latest RMG Research/Napolitan News poll, conducted between May 20 and 29 among 3,000 registered voters, found 49 percent approve of the way Trump is doing his job, while 50 percent disapprove. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025 in Washington, It Matters There has been some evidence of Trump's approval rating ticking up slightly after a period of decline following the introduction of his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April. But Trump's approval rating remaining in the negative, albeit within the margin of error, with a Republican-leaning pollster could be a sign of alarm for the White House. What To Know The latest RMG Research/Napolitan News poll found Trump's approval rating has improved very slightly from a survey conducted in mid-May. The earlier survey showed Trump's approval rating had dipped into negative territory, with 48 percent approving of the job he is doing and 50 percent disapproving. Only one other RMG Research/Napolitan News poll conducted during Trump's second term has seen the president with a net negative approval rating. A survey conducted in mid-April, days after he unveiled his "Liberation Day" tariffs, sending stock markets into a tailspin and sparking recession fears, saw his approval rating at -3, with 48 percent approving of Trump's performance and 51 percent disapproving. All other surveys have seen Trump with an approval rating above water, with the highest approval rating of +18 coming in a survey conducted the week Trump returned to office in January, when 57 percent approving of the job he was doing and just 39 percent disapproving. What People Are Saying Political analyst Robert Collins, a professor at Dillard University, told Newsweek last week that Trump's approval rating is "inching up because the economy has stabilized and Trump has put a pause on his most draconian tariffs, which were unpopular. "However, if those draconian tariffs do go into effect, due to trade negotiations breaking down, and it causes prices to spike, then we can expect his approval rating to go back down. The current number is historically a little low for a president during this part of his second term, but not outside of the normal range." Democratic pollster Matt McDermott previously told Newsweek that small shifts in polls are "statistical noise," not signs of growing support. "What we're seeing is stagnation, not momentum," he said. "Trump is hoping to shift blame for a weakening economy, but it's not going to work. Voters know exactly who's responsible." What's Next Trump's approval rating will likely play a major role for the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Making Canada 51st state is a great idea, but not for reason Trump thinks
President Donald Trump keeps blathering on about making Canada the 51st state. I'm for it. With a population of about 40 million that would equal about 55 congressional seats. Guess what? The Republicans would end up in a perpetual minority in the House. And they would have a tough time ever winning the presidency again. How about single-payer health care for all of us? How about more reasonable gun laws? How about some mandated minimal annual leave? How about minimal parental leave? Or a higher minimum wage? The list could go on. So let's congratulate Trump for coming up with a brilliant idea. Sorry, Canadians, but isn't it time you take one for the planet? George Wagner, Milwaukee Letters: Cudahy Farms offers dense urban development that is environmentally friendly Opinion: Here's what readers had to say about wake-enhanced boating on Wisconsin lakes Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Adding Canada would mean GOP could never control US House | Letters
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The big, beautiful billionaire tax-cut bill will hasten America's decline
Protesters attend a "Hands Off" rally to demonstrate against U.S. President Donald Trump on the National Mall on April 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Ever since the defeat of the Axis Powers in World War II, America has been admired around the world as a beacon of equality, freedom and opportunity. That admiration helped the United States become the world's preeminent economic and military power over the last 80 years. While we have faced serious problems, like racial inequality, poverty and questionable wars, our elected representatives have usually been able to work together in an effort to address them. I fear that the era of America's economic and moral dominance is now faltering and headed into a period of decline. U.S. House-passed tax bill weakens accountability at for-profit colleges, advocates say The so-called big, beautiful bill, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on May 22, is a symptom of the decline. It will greatly benefit the wealthy, while denying medical care, food assistance and other social safety-net programs to those on the lower income scale. The bill would substantially increase income inequality in the country and likely necessitate a $500 billion cut in Medicare spending. It is unfathomable that U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson voted for the bill and that Gov. Brad Little strongly supported its passage. Unless the U.S. Senate stops the bill in its tracks, the states will have to increase their budgetary outlays or let their voters go without vital services. The national debt consequences of the bill are also of great concern. It should be remembered that Trump added $8.4 trillion to the national debt during his first term, more than any other U.S. president. His big, beautiful bill would add an additional $3.8 trillion to the debt, which would raise the debt from its current $36.2 trillion to a whopping $40 trillion. That is a very serious problem in itself, but made substantially worse by other destructive actions he has taken that will seriously hinder the nation's ability to deal with that massive debt. The U.S. lives wildly beyond its means by borrowing against the future. Instead of requiring wealthy corporations and individuals to pay their fair share of taxes, we simply finance the deficits by issuing government bonds. Since the mid-1990s the GOP has forgotten that budget deficits can be prevented by raising adequate revenue. Thus, the national debt has ballooned from $5.6 trillion in 2000 to $36.2 trillion at the end of 2024. About $8.5 trillion of the debt is held by foreign governments and investors. Foreigners have helped finance our debt because the U.S. has been regarded as a steady, reliable trustworthy nation. Our dollar is the coin of the international realm, and our government bonds have always been seen as a safe, reliable investment, particularly in times of international economic turmoil. Donald Trump has shaken the world order by dumping on our friends and allies, including those closest to us – Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Japan and Korea. He has disregarded trading relationships that have made America the leader of the free world. Trump's latest threat to impose 50% tariffs on European nations seems designed to drive away our steadiest, most-reliable trading partners and military allies. His erratic and self-defeating tariff actions have shown America to be an unreliable partner. Our friends and allies have started forging stronger trading relationships among themselves and with China, our chief international adversary. This will reverberate against U.S. economic and security interests well into the future. The bond market has become increasingly edgy about Trump's erratic behavior. Investors are concerned about the safety of U.S. bonds, as evidenced by an increasing interest rate on our nation's bonded indebtedness. The big, beautiful bill promises to trigger a crisis in the bond market. A well-regarded economist has observed: 'The U.S. government bond markets are already shaky, long-term interest rates are rising, and it seems that foreign investors are fleeing the United States.' It is inconceivable that such chaos in the economic foundation of our country could have occurred since January. America has long been regarded as the moral beacon of the world. As President Ronald Reagan put it in his Farewell Address — 'The shining city upon a hill.' That perception is no longer the case. A recent survey discloses that America's worldwide popularity has suffered a collapse since January. China is now regarded more favorably than the United States. Trump is viewed more negatively (58%) than Vladimir Putin (49%) and Xi Jinping (31%). Those dismal numbers foretell a decline in America's ability to sustain its position as the premier moral, economic and military power in the world. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
