THE BEAST

LORD BUFFALO Forced to Cancel European Tour After Drummer Detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Psychedelic folk rock band Lord Buffalo has been forced to cancel their much-anticipated European tour after a devastating and unforeseen incident involving their drummer, Yamal Said . According to a statement released by the band on social media, Said — a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States — was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday, May 12 .

The group stated that Said was forcibly removed from their flight to Europe and has since not been released . Even more concerning, the band has been unable to contact him , despite engaging an immigration lawyer to locate and assist him. As of now, his whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

“We are heartbroken to announce we have to cancel our upcoming European tour,” the band wrote. “Our drummer, Yamal Said… was forcibly removed from our flight… He has not been released, and we have been unable to contact him.”

The incident has left the band and their fans shocked and deeply concerned, not only for the disruption to the tour but for the potential violation of the rights of a lawful U.S. resident. As a Green Card holder , Said holds permanent and legal residency in the United States, making the circumstances of his detainment even more troubling.

This comes amid increasing scrutiny and criticism of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its branches — including Customs and Border Protection — for what many see as the escalating militarization and inconsistency in their enforcement practices.

“We are devastated to cancel this tour,” the band continued, “but we are focusing all of our energy and resources on Yamal’s safety and freedom.”

While the band has been forced to step back from the tour, they encouraged fans to support their tour mates Orsak:Oslo , who will continue with the scheduled performances across Europe.

“We are hopeful that this is a temporary setback and that it could be safe for us to reschedule this tour in the future.”

The music community has rallied behind Lord Buffalo and Yamal Said, offering messages of solidarity and support. Still, the lack of information about Said’s status raises urgent questions about transparency, due process, and human rights within the U.S. immigration enforcement system.

Lord Buffalo’s full statement can be found on their official Facebook page .

Our thoughts are with Yamal and the band during this deeply unsettling time.