US immigration policy is coming for your Saturday night plans

US immigration policy continues to impact the careers of Middle Eastern artists, even before the Trump presidency. Both Palestinian-Algerian singer Saint Levant and Egyptian rapper Wegz recently announced the postponement of their US tour due to visa issues, which could take several months to resolve. This is not the first time such disruptions have occurred; similar cases include Moroccan-Belgian singer Dystinct and British singer Yusuf Islam, who delayed their tours due to visa delays.

In November 2024, Palestinian singer Zeyne was detained while attempting to perform at Macklemore's Gaza fundraiser, an incident that occurred under the Biden administration.

Despite these incidents, Arab Americans have a complex relationship with US immigration policies. While 56% of them support tightening border controls, they also express concerns about the number of undocumented immigrants in the country. This contradiction often leads to the misconception that immigration policies only affect undocumented individuals, when in fact, even those with legal status are facing risks, such as students deciding not to attend US universities or artists considering not to perform in the country due to visa uncertainties.

The National Immigrant Justice Center's Jesse Franzblau stated that the administration's policies are affecting both legally present and intending immigrants.

Recently, the administration announced plans for a new detention facility in Michigan, which has further heightened concerns within the Arab American community. The community's ambivalence towards immigration policies and its perceived separation from them is alarming and needs to be addressed.