Full Breakdown
Kacey Musgraves to Feature Detained Mariachi Trio at Historic Gruene Hall Shows
4/29/2026, 4:04:30 AM
Opening Acts at Gruene Hall
Kacey Musgraves announced that the Gámez-Cuéllar brothers—Antonio (18), Caleb (14) and Joshua (12)—will open her three-night Middle of Nowhere tour at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, on May 3-5, 2026. The announcement followed the brothers’ release from ICE custody.
Background and Detention
Antonio, Caleb and Joshua Gámez-Cuéllar and their parents Emma Guadalupe Cuéllar López and Luis Antonio Martínez entered the United States in 2023 on an asylum claim after fleeing cartel threats in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. They settled in McAllen, Texas, and performed with Mariachi Oro, which played on the Capitol Hill floor in 2025. ICE detained the family at a scheduled immigration appointment in February 2026; the younger children and parents were held at a family detention center in Dilley, while Antonio was placed in an adult facility. Bipartisan pressure secured their release. Musgraves, a Grammy winner promoting *Middle of Nowhere*, invited the brothers to open her shows. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) had invited the trio to the Capitol and later called for their release, describing them as “valued members of the community.” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) advocated for the family. DHS maintains the family was in the country without legal permission.
Official Statements
DHS said the family lacked legal status and that the parents “chose to bring their adult son and two children with them.” Rep. De La Cruz urged enforcement to focus on genuine threats. Rep. Castro warned that targeting “law-abiding” individuals contradicted claims of pursuing criminals. Musgraves posted on Instagram expressing excitement about the tour and her intent to highlight Mexican cultural traditions.
Criticism and Opposition
Civil-rights groups and lawmakers from both sides condemned the February detention as disproportionate, noting the family’s compliance with court-ordered check-ins and lack of security risk. The case was cited as evidence of concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the adult facility where Antonio was held, naming Raymondville in one account and an unspecified adult center in another. DHS’s claim of unlawful presence conflicts with the family’s assertion of pending asylum status. Verification of detention conditions is unavailable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “breaks my heart” — Monica De La Cruz, U.S. Representative
- “I have repeatedly urged that enforcement target those who actually threaten our communities, not good, law-abiding, talented people who are working through the legal process.” — Monica De La Cruz
- “Mariachi music is their folkloric country, so to speak,” — Kacey Musgraves
- “Great so come on the road with me.” — Kacey Musgraves, Instagram post
What’s Next
*Middle of Nowhere* releases on May 1, 2026, followed by the Gruene Hall shows, marking the brothers’ first public performances since their release and potentially shaping future country-mariachi collaborations.
