Drumming News
Original Report
Yamal Said, drummer for Austin-based psych-Americana band Lord Buffalo, was forcibly removed from a flight bound for Europe at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Monday, May 12. According to the band’s initial social media statement posted Wednesday, Said was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) just before departure and has not been in contact with the band since.
Said, a lawful permanent resident of the United States and a Mexican citizen, was set to embark on the band’s European tour. Following his removal, Lord Buffalo canceled the tour, citing concern for their bandmate’s safety and wellbeing. “We are heartbroken… We are focusing all of our energy and resources on Yamal’s safety and freedom,” the band wrote.
The group initially expressed confusion about the cause of Said’s detention, stating they had “more questions than answers” and were working with an immigration attorney to understand the situation.
CBP later confirmed that Said was detained due to an active arrest warrant and was handed over to local law enforcement. However, the agency did not elaborate on the nature of the warrant.
Update
In a follow-up on Wednesday afternoon, Lord Buffalo confirmed that Said had secured legal representation. However, they emphasized their limited knowledge of the case and requested privacy on behalf of Said’s family and legal team.
Later reporting from KUT Austin and Variety revealed that the arrest may not be immigration-related. Tarrant County Jail records indicated Said was being held on alleged violations of a restraining order—reportedly breached at least twice over the past year. By Thursday, his name no longer appeared in the jail’s online system, leaving his current status unclear.
Said, a longtime figure in the Austin music community since the 1980s, has also worked as a music educator and substitute teacher. As the situation unfolds, Lord Buffalo has expressed hope to reschedule the tour in the future and asked fans to continue supporting their tourmates, Orsak Oslo.
This incident adds to a growing list of music industry disruptions tied to legal and immigration challenges, underscoring the complexities artists face when traveling internationally.
