The Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami Beach!
Miami, US, Oct 21 (EFE).- By Blanca Escriche
The Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami Beach addressed on Tuesday how tightening United States immigration policies are affecting Latin artists and warned about the growing risks of social media activity for those undergoing visa processes.
Several popular acts, including Julión Álvarez, Los Alegres del Barranco, and Grupo Firme, have faced visa denials in recent months, preventing them from performing in the US.
Immigration attorney Lea A. Salama DiMitri told attendees that restrictions are impacting not just Mexican performers but also Venezuelan and Cuban artists, who face additional hurdles.
“People think getting a US visa is a right, but it’s not, it’s a privilege,” DiMitri said during the panel, held as part of the 36th edition of Billboard’s Latin Music Week.
Journalist Griselda Flores, who moderated the discussion, highlighted that Venezuelans are often told to apply for visas in Bogotá, while Cubans must travel to Georgetown, Guyana, adding significant costs for applicants.
Panelists noted that many visas for these nationalities expire faster, and once visa holders leave US territory, they often cannot re-enter, even if their visas remain valid.
US authorities monitoring social media
DiMitri also warned that the US State Department is now using artificial intelligence algorithms to screen visa applicants’ social media profiles.
“With the evolution of AI, the government has created a sort of algorithm to analyze people’s online activity,” she explained.
She added that under the Trump administration, new rules were introduced requiring student visa applicants to remove privacy settings from their accounts.
“Now people have to worry about what they post, especially anything political,” DiMitri said.
Flores questioned whether such monitoring could be seen as a restriction on freedom of expression, particularly after several Mexican regional artists had their visas revoked over performances involving “narcocorridos” (songs referencing drug trafficking).
Visa delays and cancellations hurt artists and industry
The denial or delay of US visas can be “detrimental” to artists’ careers, said Jorge Naranjo, director of event agency Loud and Live.
“It’s not only about missing work opportunities in the US; it affects their image across other markets as well,” he told EFE.
Spanish singer Miguel Bosé had to cancel a New York concert on Oct. 2 after visa delays, though his US tour later resumed on Oct. 17.
Mexican star Julión Álvarez lost over 2 million dollars when his Texas concert for 50,000 fans was canceled due to visa revocation.
Similarly, Los Alegres del Barranco had their visas canceled after posting images linked to a known drug trafficker, while Grupo Firme missed their scheduled performance at La Onda Fest in California in June because of administrative delays.
“It’s a complete chain that affects the entire economy around a concert,” Naranjo explained.
The most common visa categories for performers, the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities and the P-1B visa for members of internationally recognized groups, can be revoked for reasons ranging from criminal activity to technical noncompliance.
“US tours are crucial not just financially but also for visibility,” Naranjo said. “That kind of exposure lifts artists to another level, and it echoes in their global careers.” EFE
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