Yamal Said, the drummer for the Austin-based band Lord Buffalo, was detained by Customs and Border Protection agents on Monday at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Said, a Mexican national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was reportedly removed from a Europe-bound flight and handed over to local authorities due to an active arrest warrant, according to CBP officials.
The band took to Facebook on Wednesday to break the news, stating that the drummer was forcibly removed from the flight just before the band was set to embark on their European tour. As a result, all upcoming performances in Europe have been canceled. The first show had been scheduled for Thursday in The Netherlands.
Customs and Border Protection confirmed the detention but did not provide additional details beyond confirming the existence of an arrest warrant. Public records show that Said is currently being held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center in Fort Worth. He faces accusations of violating a bond or protective order at least twice within the past 12 months, which under Texas law constitutes a third-degree felony. His bond has been set at $40,000.
Following the incident, Lord Buffalo announced in a follow-up post that Said has been connected with legal representation. The band expressed their sorrow and disappointment at having to cancel the tour, emphasizing that their focus is now on ensuring the safety and legal defense of their bandmate.
Yamal Said has long been a fixture in Austin’s music community. Having moved to the city in the late 1980s after his family emigrated from Mexico City in the wake of a devastating earthquake, Said has not only performed as a professional musician but also worked as a music teacher at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The incident has stirred conversations around immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly under recent policies that have cast a wider net over individuals who, while holding legal status, have encountered issues with the justice system.
Though some online have speculated that this might be part of a broader immigration crackdown, CBP made it clear that the detention was directly related to the outstanding warrant rather than his immigration status. Lord Buffalo, which has been active since at least 2011, did not respond to media requests for further comment. Meanwhile, fans and members of the music community have shared messages of support and expressed hope that Said’s legal situation can be resolved swiftly.
