Palestinian Artist Saint Levant Postpones North American Tour Over US Visa Problems

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PublishedSeptember 2, 2026, 7:46 AM UTC

UpdatedSeptember 3, 2026, 12:12 PM UTC

Palestinian singer Saint Levant on stage during a concert at the Zitadelle Spandau in Berlin, Germany [File: Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images]

Palestinian singer and songwriter Marwan Abdelhamid, widely known by his stage name Saint Levant, has postponed his planned North American tour after encountering what he described as major complications with his United States visa.

Abdelhamid announced the decision on Tuesday through Instagram, explaining that his visa application had initially been approved by US authorities. However, with his scheduled performances drawing closer, he said he was unexpectedly required to undergo additional background checks, creating uncertainty over whether he would be able to enter the country in time for the concerts.

After consulting his legal representatives and speaking with Palestinian and Arab artists who had experienced similar difficulties, Abdelhamid said his team concluded that postponing the US dates was the most practical option. The North American performances have now been moved to spring 2027, with the singer expressing hope that the visa process will have been completed by then.

The postponement affects part of what was expected to be Abdelhamid’s largest headline tour so far. His schedule included 41 dates across North America, Europe and the Middle East, with performances planned in major US cities including Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Detroit.

The visa difficulties come amid a broader period of uncertainty for international performers seeking to work in the United States. Musicians, comedians and other touring artists have increasingly faced immigration-related obstacles, with some forced to cancel American performances and others reconsidering US tours because of the financial and legal risks involved.

Abdelhamid’s experience is particularly significant because his music frequently addresses Palestinian identity and the experiences of displacement and oppression. Born in Jerusalem to a French Algerian mother and Serbian Palestinian father, he has built his artistic identity around his heritage and the Palestinian experience while also incorporating broader influences into his music.

The singer’s announcement comes against the backdrop of tighter US immigration measures introduced during President Donald Trump’s second term. The administration has taken several steps aimed at restricting entry by foreign nationals, including a policy that suspended visa processing for nationals of 75 countries.

Countries affected by the policy include Brazil, Afghanistan, Senegal, Uruguay and Thailand. The restrictions have generated legal challenges, with US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruling last month that the policy had gone beyond the authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and declaring it unlawful.

The administration has also faced criticism over measures affecting people whose visas had already been approved. In August, following the court ruling, visa appointments were paused globally while US consular offices underwent what authorities described as “in-depth training”.

The changing immigration environment has created additional uncertainty for international artists whose careers depend on the ability to travel between countries for scheduled performances. A delay in receiving a visa can affect not only the artist but also promoters, venues, musicians, technical crews and other workers involved in a tour.

For performers with large international schedules, the consequences can also be financial. Legal consultations and additional immigration procedures can add substantial costs to touring budgets, while uncertainty over entry can make it difficult for organisers to guarantee that concerts will proceed as planned.

Several international acts have already encountered similar problems.

The Tuareg guitar group Tinariwen, whose members come from northern Africa, was among the artists whose US touring plans were disrupted by immigration restrictions. The group’s manager told The New York Times earlier this year that several members are from Mali, which was included on the US visa ban list, forcing the band to cancel its planned tour dates.

Mexican singer Diego Millan, who performs under the name Calle 24, also announced in August that his US performances would not go ahead because of immigration problems.

Millan told followers that the cancellation followed the unexpected revocation of his US work visa. He said the circumstances were beyond his control and that his team was working to resolve the issue, while also expressing respect for US laws.

The growing number of cases has prompted criticism from people who argue that immigration enforcement is increasingly affecting artists and other individuals because of their nationality or political views.

Under Trump’s second administration, immigration authorities have pursued visa and green-card actions involving individuals who have publicly supported Palestinian rights. Green cards provide permanent residency in the United States, making immigration enforcement in such cases particularly consequential for those affected.

Among the most prominent cases has been Mahmoud Khalil, a former Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University. Palestinian Authority officials have also faced the withdrawal of US visas.

The issue of political expression has become closely connected to immigration enforcement following an executive order signed by Trump on the first day of his second term. The order called for efforts to restrict visas for people deemed to “espouse hateful ideology” or hold “hostile attitudes toward [US] citizens”, with the administration presenting the measure as a way of protecting the country.

Rubio has subsequently invoked provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act in efforts to remove pro-Palestinian voices from the United States. The secretary has argued in some cases that individuals could create “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”.

Those policies have also faced constitutional challenges. A judge last week ruled that such measures violated free-speech protections under the US Constitution, adding another layer of legal uncertainty to the administration’s immigration actions.

For international performers, the disputes have consequences that extend beyond the courtroom. US tours are often organised months in advance, meaning artists must secure immigration approval well before arriving in the country. Additional screening or visa complications can therefore disrupt arrangements long after tickets have gone on sale and venues have been booked.

That is the situation Saint Levant now faces with his North American performances. Rather than proceed with dates whose status remains uncertain, the artist and his legal team have opted to postpone the shows until spring 2027.

His decision allows his European and Middle Eastern touring plans to remain separate from the immediate US visa uncertainty, while giving additional time for the American immigration process to be completed.

For Abdelhamid, the issue also intersects with the identity that has defined much of his artistic work. His songs have frequently explored Palestinian life, forced displacement, oppression and pride in his cultural heritage, making him part of a generation of artists using music to communicate experiences tied to identity and political reality.

The postponement therefore comes at a time when international artists are navigating not only the practical demands of global touring but also an increasingly complicated US immigration environment.

Abdelhamid’s team is now hoping that the additional time will allow the visa process to be resolved before the rescheduled North American concerts. Until then, the performances planned for cities such as Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Detroit will have to wait, turning what was expected to be the artist’s biggest headline tour into another example of how immigration complications can reshape international entertainment schedules.