Rodrigo y Gabriela U.S. visa woes

Guitarist 'is denied entry to US':

A Mexican guitarist who has become a star on the world music scene has said he has been denied entry to the US.

Rodrigo Sanchez of the group Rodrigo y Gabriela said his application to renew a visa had been refused and they had been forced to cancel part of a tour.

The US State Department refused because Sanchez has a similar name to a man who is banned from the US, he said.

Eight US gigs have been called off so far and Sanchez said it may take up to three months to resolve the situation.

In a statement Rodrigo said,

I have met some others musicians from different parts of the world that have, unfortunately, been through the same situation when they were about to start their tour in the States. This is nothing to do with being Latin or Arab or from wherever. This is a policy that some have chosen to support, these are internal security measure issues that have to be resolved by Americans themselves. We hope to be back into the States as soon as I'm cleared to do so and keep contributing to society by sharing music and our time with people and reinforcing the importance that art and culture have, have had and will have to all of us while we are alive.