A veteran of the Dallas acoustic scene, Piñon has been playing guitar and writing since he was a child.
“It all started when I begged my mother for this black-and-white First Act guitar in front of a Walmart display one year,” Piñon says. “I began playing solo gigs locally and working with like-minded musicians in other projects before deciding to form my own band.”
Piñon created Sucia Muerte for reasons that extended beyond music.
“I’ve always wanted my music to have a message and reach multiculturally in some way,” Piñon says. “Sucia Muerte began as an amalgamation of bringing my message and music together with a full band.”
In March 2024, Sucia Muerte released their second single, the Piñon-penned “Kids in Cages (Ninos Enjaulados).” It’s a protest song, playing like an aggressive outcry of support for separated children and families at the Mexican border.
“The fact is things have not gotten better for migrant families,” Piñon says. “Especially those children separated and placed in detention.”
“Kids in Cages” was released months before the eventual re-election of President Trump. Immediately following Monday’s inauguration, Trump theatrically signed a number of executive orders in front of a live audience, including several moves to crack down on border security and safeguard the nation from what he calls a “terrorist attack.”
These orders included declaring the situation at the border a national emergency, ending birthright citizenship and “catch and release” policies, resuming construction on a border wall and suspending the Refugee Admissions Program.
In addition, Trump also shut down the CBP One border app, which previously enabled nearly 1 million people to enter the U.S. legally and set up work visas for them to stay. Demand for the program was high, with an estimated 280,000 people vying for 1,450 daily appointments, distributed in a lottery system. A video posted to X shows migrants in Ciudad Juarez crying after their scheduled appointments were canceled 20 minutes before beginning.
Migrants in Ciudad Juárez who were waiting for their 1 pm CBP1 parole appointments learned 20 minutes ago that the app has shut down & those appointments are no longer valid. pic.twitter.com/F3pNrZyEBR
— Arelis R. Hernández (@arelisrhdz) January 20, 2025
“The need for immigration reform has been an ongoing issue,” Piñon says. “There is no simple, quick solution.”
In another act of protest, Piñon decided to release an acoustic version of the song on Inauguration Day.
“I am releasing this song on Inauguration Day as a voice for the voiceless,” he says. “Those being incarcerated unfairly and who are victims of abuse due to a failing system. Maybe someone hears this song and decides to be part of the solution.”
To be part of the solution, Piñon recommends three organizations for donations or volunteering.
RAICES, which translates to “roots” in Spanish, is a Texas-based immigration reform organization that was established in 1986. It offers legal counsel to immigrant families, believing that represented families are 10 times more likely to earn a favorable decision in court than unrepresented ones. RAICES is open for donations.
The National Immigrant Justice Center operates similarly to RAICES, but on a national scale. The NIJC has opportunities for pro bono attorneys and internships.
The American Civil Liberties Union is a broader organization that fights for the protection of rights across all political and social lines. In addition to immigration, the ACLU also works to protect transgender, abortion and racial rights. The organization accepts donations and offers easy online ways to take action, including sending messages to local and national legislation.
“Instead of spreading hatred and violence,” Piñon says, “we should stay informed and find ways to make a difference, no matter how small.”
