Lord Buffalo Drummer Yamal Said Detained by CBP, Halting European Tour

In a stunning twist at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Yamal Said, the talented drummer for Texas-based heavy Americana band Lord Buffalo, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on Monday, halting the band’s eagerly awaited European tour. A Mexican national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, Said was apprehended due to an active warrant for allegedly violating a restraining order at least twice, which can escalate to a felony in Texas under certain conditions, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Said, who has been laying down beats for Lord Buffalo for eight years and teaches music at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, was removed from a flight just as the band prepared to promote their latest album, Holus Bolus, alongside Norwegian act Orsak:Oslo. The exact details of the protective order remain under wraps, but Said is currently held at Tarrant County Corrections Center, leaving the band and fans reeling.

The detention forced Lord Buffalo to cancel their eight-date European tour, a devastating blow for the group and their supporters. In a heartfelt social media post, the band expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support while respecting Said’s family’s request for privacy. Orsak:Oslo, their tour partners, decried the incident, stating, “No one should be pulled off a plane and jailed for simply trying to travel and make art.”

Said’s journey to the U.S. began in the 1980s after a catastrophic earthquake rocked Mexico City, a move that eventually led him to become a respected figure in Austin’s music and education communities. Paul Carlson, assistant principal at the Texas School for the Blind, praised Said as a “highly respected and long-serving member” of the school, underscoring the drummer’s deep ties to the community.

As the situation unfolds, the incident raises questions about the intersection of immigration, law enforcement, and artistic freedom, leaving many to wonder how such a routine departure could spiral into a career-altering ordeal.