Yamal Said, the drummer for the Texas-based band Lord Buffalo, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday as the band prepared to embark on an eight-date European tour. Authorities stated they had a warrant for Said’s arrest due to allegations that he violated a restraining order at least twice, a violation that could be classified as a felony in Texas. Said, a Mexican national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, is currently being held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center. The incident has forced the band to cancel its tour, which was intended to support their latest album, ‘Holus Bolus,’ with Norwegian band Orsak:Oslo.
The drummer for the Texas-based band Lord Buffalo, Yamal Said, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday as the band prepared to embark on an eight-date European tour. Authorities cited a warrant for his arrest due to allegations that he violated a restraining order at least twice, a violation that could be classified as a felony in Texas. Said, a Mexican national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, is currently being held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center.
The incident has had significant consequences for the band, forcing them to announce the cancellation of their tour. The band had been preparing for the European tour in support of their latest album, ‘Holus Bolus,’ with Norwegian band Orsak:Oslo. Said, who has been the band’s drummer for the past eight years, moved to the U.S. in the 1980s after a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City. He has also been a music teacher for the Texas School for the Blind based in Austin.
Paul Carlson, assistant principal at the Texas School for the Blind, remarked that Said is ‘a highly respected and long-serving member of our school community.’ The band has been expressing its concerns about the situation, stating that ‘no one should be pulled off a plane and jailed for simply trying to travel and make art with their band.’ Orsak:Oslo, the Norwegian band, also expressed solidarity with Lord Buffalo on social media, writing that ‘we won’t pretend to understand the full complexity of the situation, but this should not happen anywhere.’ The exact nature of the protective order has not been made public, and Said’s legal team has requested privacy while the case unfolds.
This event has sparked conversations about the intersection of immigration enforcement and the arts. While Said is a lawful permanent resident, the circumstances of his arrest have raised questions about the treatment of artists and cultural figures under U.S. immigration law. The band’s cancellation of their tour not only affects their artistic ambitions but also impacts the wider cultural and entertainment landscape, particularly as they were set to perform in Europe. The ongoing situation remains under investigation, and Said’s case is being closely watched by legal experts and advocacy groups, who are monitoring how such an incident may influence future policies and public perception of immigration enforcement practices in the U.S.