Spain: Court dismisses case against Nacho Cano, accused of illegal hiring of Mexican workers

A Spanish court dismissed the case against Nacho Cano, former member of the group Mecano (one of the most famous Spanish pop groups in Spain and Latin America). Cano was accused of illegally hiring a number of Mexicans in his musical "Malinche" in Madrid.

The musician and three other people linked to the production were investigated since July for crimes against the rights of foreign citizens and against workers. However, the court agreed to shelve the case by considering that his team did not seek to circumvent the laws, as noted in an order dated April 11 but released Friday.

"They did not try to secretly bring in Mexican citizens with an alleged entry as tourists with the intention of staying in Spain in violation of the rules on foreign residents," the text explained.

According to the court, they did so "following a not uncommon procedure consisting of entering as a tourist without a visa and, once in our country, requesting a visa for students, a practice covered by European Union regulations."

The shadow of political persecution

When the scandal broke out, the artist claimed it was political persecution because he had been critical of the Socialist government of Pedro Sánchez. He also alleged that he was being attacked by the left for being close to Community of Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a relevant figure of the Spanish right.

After being questioned by the police in July, Cano denied the irregularities and claimed that the young Mexicans arrived in Spain within a program coordinated with the cultural institution of the Mexican embassy.

In addition, in January 2025, the court imputed two agents of the National Police after they were accused of coercing 16 of the Mexican scholarship holders involved in the musical.

In the complaint, explained Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the scholarship holders claimed that the police officers held them against their will, confiscated their cell phones and incited them to testify against Cano.

After learning the decision of the court, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, said that the case against Cano is "extremely serious" and pointed out that it was politically motivated. She also described Cano as one of the best composers in Spain.

"I want everyone to take note of what has happened in this case so that it never happens again. And for everyone to defend themselves from these attacks and this use of the powers of the state against a person just for a political reasons," Diaz Ayuso said upon learning of the decision of the court.