Cuban singer Ovidio Crespo, popularly known as Ovi, recently opened up about one of the most challenging periods of his life. In an interview with La Familia Cubana, he revealed that he narrowly escaped deportation to Cuba after being arrested and detained by U.S. immigration authorities. "I had an issue with a case, a misunderstanding with someone. I got arrested and placed on an immigration hold. I spent three months in Krome," Ovi recounted. "They wanted to send me back to Cuba."
Faced with the threat of being sent back, Ovi considered desperate measures. "I have nothing there. I thought: I won't leave the Cuban airport. I'll just get another ticket to Colombia or Mexico and continue making corridos tumbados," he explained.
The most heart-wrenching aspect of the ordeal, according to the singer, was the thought of being separated from his mother and son. "What suffocated me was not being able to see my mom and my son. When I was in immigration, my mom was the only one there. If she hadn't been here, I don't know what I would have done," Ovi admitted.
Ovi had to endure a lengthy and complicated legal battle to avoid deportation. "I had to fight the immigration case for about three months, going to court, and I received the pardon. You can only request it once in a lifetime, and they gave it to me," he stated. "They forgive you for everything, and they dismiss the papers."
He expressed gratitude for the legal and familial support he received during his time at the Krome Processing Center in South Florida. "I was a model detainee at Krome, that's why I got the pardon. My taxes were in order, and my lawyer was excellent," Ovi highlighted.
One of the toughest moments during his detention was learning about the death of Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger, which tragically occurred on his birthday. "That changed my mindset. I was suffocated inside, but it made me realize the importance of being grateful for life," he reflected.
Despite the circumstances at the center, Ovi tried to stay positive. "It was like a camping trip, but the uncertainty of where you'd be sent was daunting. Every day you wonder about it. Imagine going back to Cuba... The Dominicans were happy to return to the Dominican Republic, and the Colombians too. But the Cubans, none of them wanted to go back to Cuba," he shared.
Ovi's Immigration Struggles and Lifelong Pardon
What led to Ovi's potential deportation from the United States?
Ovi faced potential deportation due to an arrest related to a misunderstanding with someone, which led to an immigration hold and his detention at the Krome Processing Center for three months.
How did Ovi manage to avoid deportation?
Ovi avoided deportation by engaging in a challenging legal process that lasted three months, ultimately receiving a rare pardon that dismissed his immigration case.
What impact did the death of El Taiger have on Ovi?
The death of Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger, which occurred on Ovi's birthday, profoundly affected him, prompting a shift in his perspective and highlighting the value of life.