British Punk Rock Band Members Detained and Denied Entry Into the US

British punk rock outfit UK Subs recently revealed that they were denied entry into the United States last weekend. According to a Facebook post from bassist Alvin Gibbs, the incident took place when he and two other members of the band were detained by immigrant officials at LAX. The detainment occured ahead of their performance at LA Punk Invasion 2025.

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The incident involved Gibbs, drummer Stefan Häublein, and guitarist Marc Carrey. UK Subs’ vocalist Charlie Harper was allowed entry. He was forced to perform at LA Punk Invasion with a few last-minute stand-in performers. The rest of the UK Subs were subsequently deported back to the United Kingdom.

In Gibbs’ statement, he noted that he was questioned shortly after landing in Los Angeles. He was told he did not have the correct visa. The officer who questioned Gibbs allegedly said that there was an “undisclosed issue” that contributed to the questioning. Gibbs said the “undisclosed issue” was likely related to the UK Subs’ criticism of Donald Trump.

Alvin Gibbs Details the Experience He and UK Subs Experienced After Being Detained

Gibbs noted in his Facebook post that he was escorted to a “holding pen” in LAX where his bandmates were already detained. He said that his “luggage, phone, and passport” were taken from him. He was allegedly not granted a second interview until nine hours after his arrival. Gibbs went on to note that he was held for over 24 hours “without sleep” and was eventually released and deported to the UK.

“It was actually an educational experience and, honestly, I’m kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at the age of 67,” Gibbs concluded his statement. “Now knowing that my relationship [sic] with that country is over for the foreseeable future.”

Gibbs and his bandmates’ unusual detainment isn’t the first of its kind. Earlier in March, the French government released a statement claiming that a researcher was barred from entering the state of Texas and was deported after texts on his phone criticizing the Trump administration were discovered by officers. The Department of Homeland Security has denied that the French individual in question was blocked from Texas for that reason.

Photo by Ollie Millington/Redferns via Getty Images

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