Carlos Santana and Becky G have turned a deeply personal immigration story into a protest anthem with their new collaboration, "Mi Gran Amor."
The pan-Latin rock track centers on the emotional fallout of deportation and family separation. According to Billboard, producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera wrote the song in McAllen, Texas, after learning a friend had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier that same morning.
Anchored by Santana's signature guitar work, the song's chorus cuts directly to the pain at its core: "Migra, mi gran amor se fue por culpa de la migra.” The lyrics translate in English to, "Migra, my great love is gone because of la migra."
Barrera said the goal was to give a voice to people living through those experiences.
"Right now the world needs more songs with purpose," he said. "This is the reason why we wrote this song … to help those people that don’t have the voice."
He added: "I was born here in the U.S., so I can’t feel maybe that from the same perspective that maybe somebody that’s actually going through it can feel. But at least I can relate to it and be part of that voice."
Becky G echoed that sentiment, telling Billboard: "In all honesty, I think it was first and foremost accepting my privilege. As someone who was born here in the States, I will never truly understand what it is to walk those steps."
The Mexican-American singer also said she is "allowing myself to be just a vessel for those voices that can’t speak up right now."
"As always, I want my guitar, the melodies, to sound and feel like a universal hug," Santana told Billboard Español. "Now more than ever in this planet, we need unity, harmony and oneness. That’s a universal hug."
Speaking ahead of a show in Detroit, Santana described his contribution as "a universal hug."
"As always, I want my guitar, the melodies, to sound and feel like a universal hug," Santana he said. "Now more than ever in this planet, we need unity, harmony and oneness. That’s a universal hug."
"Mi Gran Amor" marks Santana's third preview release from his upcoming album, following collaborations with Grupo Frontera and Carín León. He joins a growing list of Latin musicians publicly speaking out against immigration enforcement.
