ICE detains prominent Cuban musicians Andy García Palacios and Degnis Bofill

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained two prominent Cuban musicians, pianist Andy García Palacios and Latin Grammy-winning percussionist Degnis Bofill, placing both at risk of deportation.

Degnis Bofill was apprehended at Miami International Airport while returning from a trip to New York. His wife, Mara Delgado, noted that Bofill arrived in the U.S. on a visa in 2023 and had a pending asylum application. The musician, a founder of the group Golpes Libres, is currently held in a transit processing center.

Andy García Palacios was intercepted on August 15 at Los Angeles International Airport. His attorney, Avelino González, claims the musician was legally entered and has no criminal record, suggesting ICE may have been waiting for him. ICE maintains that García Palacios' authorization to remain in the country expired on May 27, 2024, leading to removal proceedings.

The arrests have drawn significant criticism from the Cuban musical community in both Florida and Havana. Renowned figures such as Chucho Valdés, Diana Fuentes, and Luis Enrique have expressed concern regarding the impact on the musicians' careers and personal lives.