Palestinian Artist Saint Levant Postpones North American Tour Due to US Visa Delays

Palestinian singer-songwriter Marwan Abdelhamid, widely known by his stage name Saint Levant, has delayed his highly anticipated debut North American tour following unexpected US visa complications.

Sharing the update on Instagram on Tuesday, Abdelhamid stated that although the United States government initially approved his visa application, he was later asked to undergo additional background checks as his tour dates drew closer.

“After discussions with my legal team, and speaking with some of my Palestinian and Arab peers who have gone through similar experiences, my team and I have made the difficult decision to postpone my North American concerts until spring 2027, in the hope that the visa process will be completed by then,” he wrote.

The extensive 41-date tour was set to be Abdelhamid’s largest headline venture to date, featuring scheduled performances across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including major US stops in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Detroit.

However, this postponement highlights a broader trend affecting international performers who face cancellations or rescheduling of US events due to increasingly stringent immigration restrictions under US President Donald Trump's administration.

The administration has implemented numerous measures to limit foreign national entry, including temporary visa suspensions affecting dozens of countries. Although some policies have faced legal challenges and judicial pushback, broader administrative pauses and heightened scrutiny have created significant hurdles for international artists, comedians, and musicians.

Industry critics have raised concerns that stricter immigration policies risk discriminating against specific groups or suppressing dissenting viewpoints, citing recent actions targeting individuals expressing support for Palestinian rights.

Born in Jerusalem to a French Algerian mother and a Serbian Palestinian father, Abdelhamid uses his music to reflect on the Palestinian experience, focusing on themes of heritage, displacement, and resilience. His upcoming tour was designed to promote his second album, AFANDI, released on August 21.