The popular Mexican band Grupo Firme has announced that they will not be performing at an event in the United States. This decision comes after observations made by the U.S. Embassy regarding their visa application process. Originally, the band from Tijuana was slated to perform at La Onda Fest in Napa Valley, California, on June 1. They were scheduled to share the stage with other notable regional Mexican artists such as Carín León, Alicia Villarreal, and Óscar Maydón.

Grupo Firme shared this news through a story on their official Instagram account. In the statement, they mentioned that the U.S. government's approval for their entry, along with Music VIP Entertainment, a company founded by their representative Isael Gutiérrez, is undergoing an "administrative process."

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We appreciate your understanding and especially the love from our fans in the United States. We will soon share news about our return to America where we'll meet again to sing, dance, and celebrate together," the statement reads.

According to the U.S. Embassy's portal, some visa applications need to go through an "administrative process," which takes additional time following the consular officer's interview. "Most administrative processes are resolved within 60 days after the visa interview. When an administrative process is required, processing time varies based on individual circumstances," the embassy's website explains.

The band has yet to announce the fate of their other performance scheduled in the U.S. for June 22 in Texas. Back in April, Eduin Caz, the band's vocalist, shared their decision to distance themselves from narcocorridos and clarified that their previous songs were fictional stories.

Grupo Firme sought to separate themselves from the controversy surrounding Los Alegres del Barranco, another band embroiled in scandal after projecting images of Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán during a concert. Due to these actions, the Sinaloan band had their tourist and work visas revoked, as confirmed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

As part of its new security policy, the United States has labeled cartels as terrorist organizations, making them a priority target in President Donald Trump's anti-drug agenda.

Just a week ago, singer Julión Álvarez faced a similar situation. The performer of hits like "Póngamonos de Acuerdo" had to postpone a concert scheduled for May 24 in Texas. In a video posted on his Instagram account, he explained that his work visa was canceled. "It's a situation beyond our control. That's the information I have and what I can share," he said.

Álvarez made his return to the United States last April with three sold-out concerts at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. These shows marked his comeback to U.S. stages after eight years of legal issues that began on August 10, 2017, when the Department of the Treasury highlighted his potential link to a money-laundering network supposedly connected to Raúl Flores "El Tío," a discreet capo associated with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Companies—including soccer schools, sports groups, and music publishers—placed Álvarez and former soccer player Rafael Márquez at the center of the controversy. Álvarez regained access to the United States in 2023 after proving his innocence.