The Ongoing Visa Issue: Josi Cuén, Jorge Medina Are the Latest Regional Mexican Act to Postpone Shows

Another regional Mexican act was forced to change its plans due to visa issues. Josi Cuén and Jorge Medina announced Monday that they had to postpone five of their shows in California because of the “visa process.”

The former vocalists of Banda La Arrolladora Banda El Limón were scheduled to kick off their “Juntos: Así o Más Claro y Que Critiquen Tour” at SAP Center in San Jose on Friday, June 13, but visa issues with Cuén and his team are forcing the duo and promoter Live Nation to change their plans. Concerts at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Chula Vista’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Save Mart Center at Fresno State and Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center are also being rescheduled.

“We regret to inform you that the San Jose, Los Angeles, Chula Vista, Fresno and Sacramento dates for ‘JUNTOS 2025 United States’ will be rescheduled due to the visa process for ‘Josi Cuen’ and his team,” the artists said in a joint statement posted on their social media pages. “We understand the news has an impact that will inconvenience your plans, and we sincerely appreciate your kindness and understanding during this situation, which is beyond our control. We are working hard to ensure that the wait is worth it. When we meet again, we promise you an unforgettable show!”

It’s an announcement that comes amid protests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles County, a situation that has escalated over the past four days despite mostly peaceful demonstrations. Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request not to send troops, President Donald Trump sent the National Guard as well as Marines to Southern California.

The situation is not only a major blow to the Cuén and Medina, who have released new music over the past two years and are preparing their first U.S. trek, but also to the Latin touring industry. While visa problems are not uncommon when it comes to live music, they seem to be happening more frequently among regional Mexican acts.

Grupo Firme, a successful band that has headlined shows at SoFi Stadium in the L.A. area, recently had their visas suspended by the U.S. government, forcing them to cancel their appearance at La Onda Festival in Napa.

Prominent regional Mexican singer Julión Álvarez found out his visa was revoked a day before his sold-out show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He posted a video on Instagram on May 23 to say a phrase that is becoming all too common among such artists: “It is a situation that is out of our hands.”

The stage had already been set, and engineers were working on sound and lighting when Álvarez was barred from entering the U.S. Promoter Henry Cárdenas told Billboard that the postponed show cost him $2 million.

The concert in Arlington was supposed to be Álvarez’s fourth show in the States this year. He made a triumphant return to the U.S. in April with three sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, his first concerts in the country since 2017. The three-night stand grossed $30,000,891 off 132,095 tickets sold, according to Pollstar Boxoffice, and it’s safe to assume the Mexican singer would have had similar success at AT&T Stadium with at least an $8 million haul.

Abraham Contreras, who books Latin talent and produces live events in L.A. for Uno Productions, told Pollstar in April that acquiring P and O work visas for touring artists has gotten more difficult, and that government officials are much more vigilant. He heads a weekly meeting with promoters and managers working in Latin music, and Contreras said that there is concern among industry professionals about recent ICE raids.

“What can I say? Definitely, the attitude [toward migrants] that exists doesn’t help this business,” Contreras said. “People are scared and don’t want to go to shows. There might be a lot of concerts canceled because of a lack of fans, but there is a certain fear of going out on the street because now they stop you and ask you for papers, and many of our people don’t have any.

“How would we like things to be? We’d like things that did not harm our community, but the reality is that they are harming us,” Contreras added.

Earlier this year, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau barred Los Alegres del Barranco because their set in Guadalajara included an image of a cartel leader, an expression the U.S. government saw as “glorifying” a “drug kingpin.” Some of the band’s music pertains to a popular subgenre known as narcocorridos, and many Mexican artists, including stars like Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano, sing about narco culture much in the same way hip-hop, country, rock, metal and many others have historically glorified figures who run afoul of the law (“I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die,” for example, sang the great Johnny Cash).

“I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean expression should be free of consequences,” Landau wrote on X. “… 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.”

It’s a move that also infringes on free speech, but Mexico has also been cracking down on narcocorridos, with some states banning the genre in public events.

ICE raids, revoked visas and fear among a community that is a major part of the live industry could greatly affect the revenue of major promoters, venues and Mexican artists who rely on U.S. fans for much of their income. Regional Mexican acts are major draws for amphitheaters and arenas across the nation, and many of the artists make more here than in their native country.