Psych-Americana rock band Lord Buffalo has canceled its upcoming European tour after drummer Yamal Said was detained at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The band announced the news on social media, explaining that Said, a Mexican citizen and U.S. green card holder, was “forcibly removed” from their international flight on May 12. The band initially believed the incident might have been related to his immigration status, but new reports suggest otherwise.
In a post shared Tuesday morning, Lord Buffalo said Said had not been released and that the remaining three band members had been unable to contact him. The band added they were working with an immigration attorney to secure more information and to help with his release.
Later on Tuesday, KUT News — a public radio station operated by the University of Texas at Austin — reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection removed Said from the flight due to an active arrest warrant. A CBP spokesperson confirmed that Said was handed over to local law enforcement.
According to KUT, the warrant was issued by the Llano County Sheriff’s Office. Said is reportedly facing felony charges for allegedly violating a restraining order on at least two occasions in the past year.
Lord Buffalo had been scheduled to tour Europe alongside Norwegian band Orsak:Oslo. The Austin-based quartet released their most recent album, Holus Bolus, last summer under the Blues Funeral Recordings label.
“We are currently working with an immigration lawyer to find out more information and to attempt to secure his release,” the band wrote. “We are devastated to cancel this tour, but we are focusing all of our energy and resources on Yamal’s safety and freedom. We are hopeful that this is a temporary setback and that it could be safe for us to reschedule this tour in the future.”
Political Tensions Affecting Live Music
The live music industry continues to feel the impact of political decisions, including visa complications, executive orders, and international conflicts. Since the beginning of the year, these issues have led to an increase in show cancellations.
Under the Trump administration, which has been known for strict immigration policies and opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, many artists have raised concerns about how politics are interfering with their ability to tour. Some have been forced to cancel performances due to immigration enforcement or political statements.
In March, British punk band U.K. Subs reported that three of its members were denied entry into the U.S. They were told the issue was related to visa problems. However, bassist Alvin Gibbs suspected the denial may have been connected to his public criticism of the current U.S. government.
In April, Canadian musician Bells Larsen, who is transgender, said he had to cancel his U.S. tour. According to Larsen, a Trump-era executive order requires all identification documents used for visas to match a person’s sex assigned at birth. Although Larsen’s passport lists him as male, he stated that U.S. immigration no longer accepts that as valid due to his transgender status.
“I received an email on [April 8] from the American Federation of Musicians stating that I am no longer able to apply for a visa because U.S. immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds to one’s assigned sex at birth,” Larsen wrote on social media. “To put it super plainly, because I’m trans (and have an M on my passport), I can’t tour in the States.
“I hesitate to include a ‘right now’ or an ‘anymore’ at the end of my previous sentence because—in this sociopolitical climate—I truly don’t know which phrasing holds more truth.”
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