Saint Levant delays tour over US visa issues

Palestinian singer-songwriter Saint Levant has postponed his debut North American tour. Marwan Abdelhamid announced the delay on Tuesday, September 2, 2026. He cited major U.S. Visa complications.

Abdelhamid stated on Instagram that his visa was initially approved. Then, as his tour dates neared, he was asked to undergo additional background checks.

A Growing Trend for Performers

Abdelhamid's decision reflects a broader pattern. Many international artists are now canceling or rescheduling U.S. Events. This is due to tighter immigration rules. Since President Donald Trump's return to office, the U.S. Has taken multiple actions to limit entry for foreign nationals.

These actions include suspending visa processing for nationals from 75 countries. The list includes Brazil, Afghanistan, Senegal, Uruguay, and Thailand. A U.S. District judge struck down this policy as unlawful last month. Despite the ruling, the administration has continued its practices. It revokes visas from successful applicants. It has also paused global visa appointments for staff training.

With visas harder to get, some artists skip U.S. Tours entirely. Others warn of steep new legal fees. These costs can make touring cost-prohibitive.

Other Artists Affected

Several musical acts have faced similar obstacles. The Tuareg-led guitar band Tinariwen from northern Africa had to cancel its tour dates. A manager for the group told reporters that many members are from Mali. Mali is a country on the visa ban list.

In August, Mexican singer Diego Millan also canceled his U.S. Tour dates. He is known as Calle 24. Millan cited the unexpected revocation of his U.S. Work visa. He wrote on social media that his team was working to resolve the matter.

Political Context and Criticism

Critics argue the U.S. Is using immigration policy to discriminate. They say it stifles certain viewpoints. Under Trump's second term, the U.S. Has sought to revoke visas and green cards from people who speak in favor of Palestinian rights. High-profile cases have included scholars, students, and members of the Palestinian Authority.

On his second term's first day, Trump issued an executive order. It pushed to restrict visas for those who espouse hateful ideology or hold hostile attitudes toward U.S. Citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has used the Immigration and Nationality Act to deport pro-Palestinian voices. He claims they could cause serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

A judge last week called such policies a violation of constitutional free speech rights.

The Artist and His Postponed Tour

After discussions with his legal team and peers, Abdelhamid made a difficult choice. He wrote about his decision. The 41-date tour was set to be his biggest headline event. It included stops across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

U.S. Cities on the schedule included Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Detroit. Abdelhamid was born in Jerusalem to a French Algerian mother and a Serbian Palestinian father. His music often chronicles the Palestinian experience. It describes displacement and oppression while expressing pride in his heritage. The tour was meant to promote his second album, AFANDI, released on August 21.