Three teenage mariachi musicians who were temporarily detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February have been selected to open for country singer Kacey Musgraves at several upcoming shows in Texas. On Monday, Musgraves announced that the Gamez-Cuellar brothers—Antonio, 18; Caleb, 14; and Joshua, 12—will join her for performances at Gruene Hall from May 3 to May 5 as part of her Middle of Nowhere tour. The final date coincides with Cinco de Mayo, a holiday commemorating the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, widely celebrated in the United States.
Background of the Detention
The Gamez-Cuellar brothers were arrested alongside their parents by ICE in February, sparking a bipartisan backlash that led to their release. The two younger boys and their parents were held at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, while Antonio was separated and placed in an adult facility, according to Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat who advocated for the family's release. The case drew national attention because the brothers had traveled to Washington DC in summer 2025 after their high school mariachi ensemble won a state competition in Texas. Their Republican congressional representative, Monica De La Cruz, had previously invited the ensemble to the House floor to recognize their success.
Legal Status and Response
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, stated that the family was living in the country without legal permission, adding that the parents “chose to bring their adult son and two children with them.” However, the boys' father, Luis Antonio Martinez, told the New York Times that the family entered the US in 2023 on an asylum claim after fleeing cartel threats in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The family attended scheduled court check-ins after settling in McAllen, Texas, and Martinez said that ICE instructed them to report to an appointment, where they were then detained. In response, De La Cruz said it “breaks my heart,” urging that enforcement target those who threaten communities, not “good, law-abiding, talented people who are working through the legal process.”
After their release in March, Musgraves celebrated on Instagram, writing: “Great so come on the road with me.” Gruene Hall, where the performances will take place, is one of Texas's most celebrated live music venues, built in 1878 and hosting hundreds of shows annually.
