Travel bans and visa delays disrupt international performers and force U.S. cancellations

Musicians, theater groups and other overseas performers are facing visa obstacles and rising costs after travel restrictions announced by the Trump administration, forcing cancellations of U.S. tours and posing a threat to the American performing arts sector. The Grammy-winning band Tinariwen canceled a North American tour when restrictions were announced on 19 countries, including Mali, where most of its members are from.

The administration says the measures are meant to protect Americans. On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at "aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes," and since then the government has imposed severe restrictions on dozens of countries, including full bans on Cuba, Haiti, Niger, Laos, Sierra Leone and Syria and on people whose documents were issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Last week the State Department said it would soon halt processing of immigrant visa applications from citizens of 75 countries, though full details were not announced. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has tightened petition processing and is placing a "hold" on adjudications for applicants born in about 40 targeted countries, Matthew Tragesser, a U.S.C.I.S.

spokesman, said.

Key Topics

Culture, Performing Arts, Tinariwen, Trump Administration, Uscis, Visa Processing