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Bad Bunny Skips U.S. Tour Dates Amid ICE Raid Concerns
Prioritizing Safety Over Stateside Shows, Bad Bunny Sidesteps U.S. Tour Dates Amid Rising ICE Concerns
Puerto Rico-born superstar prioritizes fan safety as immigration enforcement fears influence his global Debi Tirar Mas Fotos World Tour
Latin music sensation Bad Bunny has confirmed that his upcoming Debi Tirar Mas Fotos World Tour will not include any U.S. dates, citing concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The Puerto Rico-born musician, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, explained in an interview with i-D that while he deeply values his American fans, the risks posed by aggressive immigration enforcement made touring in the United States too precarious.
“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate — I’ve performed there many times. All of [the shows] have been successful. All of them have been magnificent,” Ocasio said. “But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Bad Bunny emphasized that fans in the U.S. will still have opportunities to see him perform through his Puerto Rico residency. He noted that being an unincorporated U.S. territory allows American Latinos and Puerto Ricans to travel to the island or other parts of the world to attend his shows.
Born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, in 1994, Bad Bunny has previously toured extensively across the United States. However, questions arose this year when his tour supporting Debi Tirar Mas Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos) conspicuously skipped the U.S., prompting speculation. When first asked about the decision in June, he described U.S. dates as “unnecessary.”
The decision also reflects Bad Bunny’s outspoken opposition to ICE raids, which have intensified under former President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Since January, over 60,000 individuals, including some U.S. citizens, have been detained in immigration enforcement actions.
In June, Bad Bunny shared a video of an ICE raid in Carolina, Puerto Rico, with his 49 million Instagram followers. “Look, those motherf—ers are in these cars, RAV4s…instead of leaving the people alone and working,” he commented.
His activism has also influenced his art. In July, he released the music video for “NUEVAYoL,” a song criticizing U.S. imperialism. The video features the Puerto Rican flag hanging from the Statue of Liberty’s tiara and includes a voiceover resembling former President Trump.
Despite skipping U.S. dates, Bad Bunny remains committed to connecting with fans worldwide, ensuring that safety concerns do not compromise the concert experience. His approach underscores his dedication to both music and social advocacy, blending entertainment with powerful political commentary.
