Cuban rapper Eliecer Márquez Duany, popularly known as El Funky, can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After enduring months of uncertainty and bureaucratic hurdles, he has been granted permanent residency in the United States. This news follows his alarming revelation in May that he was on the brink of deportation back to Cuba, a prospect he likened to "returning to hell."
"We're celebrating after so much hard work and effort. I am now a U.S. resident, extremely happy with today," the musician shared with Telemundo 51, standing beside his attorney, Miguel Inda-Romero. Just four months ago, El Funky took to social media to broadcast that he had "30 days to leave the country or face deportation." Through interviews and posts, he accused the Cuban regime of fabricating charges against him, creating false records that complicated his U.S. immigration process.
The unfolding situation rallied support from the Cuban exile community and human rights activists. El Funky admitted on the show Destino Tolk that returning to the island would mean persecution, imprisonment, and the end of his freedom: "I escaped hell. You know what it means to go back. That, for me, would be suicide."
The Role of His Lawyer and Political Implications
His lawyer, Miguel Inda-Romero, celebrated the outcome on Facebook, describing it as a triumph for the Cuban exile community against the regime: "Today, not only did El Funky win, but all of us who cherish freedom did. (…) While we celebrate this victory, we do so with sorrow for the more than 1,150 political prisoners unjustly detained in Cuba, especially your brother Maykel [Castillo ‘El Osorbo’]."
The attorney recalled that El Funky's residency application had initially been denied, necessitating an appeal, a case reopening, and the submission of a pardon to achieve final approval.
Symbol of Cuban Resistance
El Funky emerged as a symbol of Cuban resistance when he contributed to the song "Patria y Vida," the anthem of the July 11, 2021 protests, earning him two Grammy Awards and international recognition as a voice of the San Isidro Movement. Pursued in the island, he traveled to Miami in 2021 with temporary permission to attend the Latin Grammy Awards and never returned. Since then, his political activism and music have kept him in Havana's crosshairs, while he faced a challenging immigration path in the U.S.
Now, with permanent residency secured, the rapper looks forward to building a future for himself and his family without the looming threat of being sent back to a country where he foresaw "harassment, persecution, and imprisonment."
Key Questions About El Funky's Immigration Journey
Why was El Funky at risk of deportation?
El Funky faced the threat of deportation due to fabricated charges and false records allegedly created by the Cuban regime, which complicated his immigration process in the United States.
How did El Funky manage to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.?
El Funky's attorney, Miguel Inda-Romero, successfully appealed his case, reopened it, and submitted a pardon, ultimately leading to the approval of his permanent residency.
What impact did El Funky's case have on the Cuban exile community?
El Funky's case united the Cuban exile community and human rights activists in support, highlighting the ongoing struggles against the Cuban regime and the plight of political prisoners on the island.