Saint Levant delays US tour over visa restrictions
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- Saint Levant delays North American tour dates until spring 2027.
- New US immigration requirements disrupt international artists’ tours.
- Rising visa hurdles force multiple foreign acts to cancel or alter US plans.
Palestinian singer-songwriter Marwan Abdelhamid, known professionally as Saint Levant, announced he has postponed his headline North American tour until spring 2027 after encountering unexpected administrative delays with his US visa.
The artist—whose music chronicles the Palestinian experience through a fusion of Arabic, French, and English over hip-hop and R&B—was set to launch a 41-date global tour in support of his second album, AFANDI.
The tour included major stops in US cities such as Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Detroit.
Despite initially receiving approval for his entry visa, Abdelhamid shared on Instagram that US authorities unexpectedly requested additional background checks as tour dates approached, creating a timeline that could stretch on for months.
"After discussions with my legal team, and speaking with some of my Palestinian and Arab peers who have gone through similar experiences, my team and I have made the difficult decision to postpone my North American concerts until spring 2027, in the hope that the visa process will be completed by then," Abdelhamid stated on Instagram.
Broadening US visa restrictions
The delay of Saint Levant’s tour highlights an escalating crisis for international artists trying to perform in the United States following sweeping immigration changes under US President Donald Trump’s second administration.
The administration recently suspended visa processing for nationals from 75 countries and paused global visa interview appointments at embassies to conduct internal training.
Though US District Judge Jeannette Vargas struck down parts of the 75-country ban as unlawful, systemic delays and unexpected visa revocations continue to paralyze tour logistics.
Several prominent international acts have suffered similar disruptions:
- Tinariwen: The Tuareg guitar band cancelled US tour dates due to members holding citizenship in Mali, a country flagged on the administration’s restricted processing lists.
- Calle 24 (Diego Millan): The Mexican singer abruptly nixed his US performances after his work visa was unexpectedly revoked shortly before scheduled show dates.
Critics and civil rights groups have raised concerns that foreign policy directives are being used to selectively target individuals who express public support for Palestinian rights or voice dissent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has frequently drawn on provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to revoke visas for individuals deemed to pose "foreign policy consequences", a posture that legal scholars and federal judges have challenged as a violation of free speech protections.
