ICE arrests two Cuban musicians in U.S., including Latin Grammy winner

U.S. immigration authorities have arrested two prominent Cuban musicians, including Degnis Bofill, a Latin Grammy winner. Bofill was detained on August 19 at Miami International Airport as he returned from New York. His wife, Mara Delgado, has launched an online fundraising campaign to support his release and legal representation, which had raised $51,000 by Tuesday.

Bofill, who won the Latin Grammy in 2022 for Best Folk Album, is currently held at the Krome detention center in west Miami. He had entered the United States legally in 2023 and had a pending asylum application at the time of his arrest. This follows the arrest of Cuban pianist Andy García Palacios by immigration agents on August 15 at Los Angeles International Airport.

García Palacios is reportedly at the ICE processing center in Adelanto, California. The renowned Cuban musician Chucho Valdés expressed his dismay on social media, calling the news "unfortunate" and wishing for the pianist's swift return to his career, recognizing him as a significant representative of the new generation of Cuban musicians.

U.S. immigration arrests have reportedly increased since January 2025, with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arresting over 51,000 migrants in July alone, marking the highest figure during the Trump administration's second term. The article also notes that Bofill's arrest occurred while he had a pending asylum claim.