Carlos Santana and Becky G are using music to spotlight one of the most painful realities affecting Latino families in the United States. Their new collaboration, “Mi gran amor,” arrives with a message rooted in love, fear, resilience, and the emotional weight carried by immigrant communities facing detention and family separation.
The song premieres Thursday, May 28, at 8 p.m. ET and blends Santana’s rock guitar style with contemporary Latin influences. Produced and co-written by acclaimed hitmaker Edgar Barrera, the track balances urgency and vulnerability.
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© Leon BennettFor Santana, “Mi gran amor” represents more than another musical release. It marks a defining moment in the legendary guitarist’s upcoming creative era as the third single from his next album. Speaking to Billboard Español before a performance in Detroit, Santana explained the emotional intention behind the music and the role his guitar plays throughout the song.
“As always, I want my guitar and the melodies to sound and feel like a universal embrace,” Santana said. “Now more than ever on this planet, we need unity, harmony, and togetherness. That is a universal embrace.”
© Getty ImagesFor Becky G, joining the project became an exercise in reflection and responsibility. The singer and actress openly acknowledged the privilege she carries as someone born in the United States and spoke candidly about wanting to support those living in fear. “Honestly, I think the first step was acknowledging my privilege,” Becky G shared from Los Angeles. “As someone who was born here in the United States, I will never truly understand what it means to walk in those shoes.”
Becky G said she wanted to amplify voices that are often silenced by fear and uncertainty. “To simply be a vehicle for those voices that cannot speak right now,” she explained.
The emotional foundation of “Mi gran amor” comes directly from a real-life event. Edgar Barrera revealed that he began writing the song while in McAllen, Texas, after discovering that a friend had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier that same day.
© Carlos AlvarezThe experience immediately shaped the direction and urgency of the record. “Right now, the world needs more songs with purpose,” Barrera said. “That’s why we wrote this song… to help people who don’t have a voice.”
Like Becky G, Barrera also recognized that his own experience does not fully mirror the realities faced by undocumented immigrants and detained families. “I was born here in the United States, so maybe I can’t feel it from the same perspective as someone who is actually living through it,” Barrera admitted. “But at least I can relate to it and be part of that voice.”
The commitment behind “Mi gran amor” extends beyond the music itself. Barrera announced that all royalties generated from the song will be donated to families impacted by immigration detentions in border communities. For many listeners, the song will likely feel personal from the very first note.
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