International musicians rethink touring the U.S. amid aggressive immigration policies

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

When President Trump took office, he vowed to carry out the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Amid recent reports of visa and green card holders who have been detained, some international musicians have called off their plans to tour in the U.S. Nastia Voynovskaya of member station KQED has more.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BLURRING TIME")

BELLS LARSEN: (Singing) It's not as simple as either/or. I am both and I am more. Most of all...

NASTIA VOYNOVSKAYA, BYLINE: Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen was preparing to head out on an American tour when U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ph) posted a policy update that it only recognizes two sexes - male and female - as assigned at birth. Larsen's new album chronicles his transition, and he had already changed the gender marker on his passport. After seeking legal advice, he realized he had no choice but to cancel his U.S. concerts.

LARSEN: It's really heartbreaking.

VOYNOVSKAYA: Larsen isn't the only one. Earlier this month in Chicago, a Latin music festival starring Mexican hit-makers Grupo Firme was canceled because of uncertainty surrounding artist visas. Attorney Matthew Covey leads a firm that assists thousands of international artists with visa applications each year. He says aggressive immigration enforcement has put the culture sector on edge.

MATTHEW COVEY: We are seeing record numbers of artists who are part way into the process deciding, you know what? I think I'm not going to do this tour this year.

VOYNOVSKAYA: Touring the U.S. was already complicated for foreign musicians before Trump took office. Securing an artist's visa takes months and can easily cost $10,000. Even when an artist does secure a visa, it's not guaranteed that border officials will let them into the U.S. Allistair Elliott is the vice president from Canada at the American Federation of Musicians.

ALLISTAIR ELLIOTT: Under the Trump administration, with different policy changes and directives, I think it's fair to say that some individual immigration officers may take liberties with the latitude that they have.

VOYNOVSKAYA: Some artists have canceled U.S. tours out of political concerns, including German violinist Christian Tetzlaff. Rock superstar Neil Young, who's from Canada and became a U.S. citizen in 2020, wrote on his website that he's worried he won't be let back into the U.S. because of his criticisms of the president. Customs and Border Protection told NPR in a statement that the agency doesn't retaliate against people for political views. Despite these challenges, Grzegorz Kwiatkowski of Polish rock band Trupa Trupa says he's determined to play in the U.S.

GRZEGORZ KWIATKOWSKI: My activism, Trupa Trupa music, is not only about political terror and fascism, but it's also about beauty, and I think that the beauty and art is giving people hope.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MOURNERS")

TRUPA TRUPA: (Singing) Let the mourners go.

VOYNOVSKAYA: As the situation evolves, international artists must weigh difficult trade-offs if they hope to access the world's largest live music market.

For NPR News, I'm Nastia Voynovskaya.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MOURNERS")

TRUPA TRUPA: (Singing) Let the mourners come, let them go. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come, let them go. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come. Let the mourners come, let them - let the mourners come. Let...

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