Percussionist's Wife Seeks Community Support as Musician Held in ICE Detention

The wife of Cuban percussionist Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda, who was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last Tuesday, has disclosed details regarding her husband's legal predicament. She is reaching out to the community for assistance in raising awareness and garnering support.

Unexpected Detention at Miami Airport

Mara Delgado shared that her husband was returning from a trip to New York when ICE agents stopped him at Miami International Airport. He is currently being held at a temporary processing center.

“I suspect they might have been waiting for him, though I can't confirm it,” she remarked, referencing the possibility that ICE was anticipating Bofill's arrival, similar to the recent detention of pianist Andy García Palacios in Los Angeles on August 15.

Challenges in Legal Representation

Bofill entered the U.S. in 2023 on a visa, with an asylum request pending. According to Delgado, his case hadn't even reached the initial interview stage when he was detained.

“Right now, he is in a transitional processing center,” Mara noted, adding that he is not yet listed in ICE's detainee locator or the immigration court's registry. This absence complicates efforts to secure legal representation.

“Every attorney I've consulted tells me they can't proceed until we know which detention center he will be moved to,” she explained.

Community Rallying for Support

If Bofill is transferred to the jurisdiction of the Krome Detention Center in Miami, Delgado plans to hire an attorney she has already met. Meanwhile, she is gathering documents and letters of support.

To fund his legal defense, Mara launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of $40,000. As of Saturday, the initiative had raised $23,335 from over 230 donors.

“Our top priority is to secure his release. In situations like this, time is of the essence. Having proper legal assistance and the ability to act swiftly can make a significant difference,” she wrote on the platform.

“Degnis is not just my partner, my pillar, and my support. He is also a cherished member of Miami’s music community: an educator, founder of Golpes Libres, and one of the most prominent percussionists of his generation,” Mara Delgado stated in the GoFundMe campaign, urging for all possible support.

Artists and Community Members Speak Out

Numerous friends and fellow musicians have expressed their support on social media, joining the call for help.

Yadasny José Portillo Herrera posted on Facebook: “Family, my brother Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda has been unjustly detained by ICE authorities at Miami Airport. He is fully integrated into work, especially music. He is not a criminal and has committed no crime.”

Professor Fidel Morales lamented the musician's detention, publicly expressing his admiration and respect.

Bofill, the founder of Golpes Libres, has collaborated with artists like Roberto Fonseca, Arturo O'Farrill, and Dave Weckl, boasting over 28 recorded albums. In 2022, he won a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album with his contribution to "Ancestros Sinfónico" by X Alfonso and Síntesis.

He is the second Cuban musician detained by ICE in the same week. Cuban pianist Andy García has been in ICE custody since August 15, as confirmed by his brother Yandy García.

Composer Jesús Pupo voiced his concern on Instagram: “It’s very sad what is happening. Two of my great friends and brothers, artists, great musicians, but even better people, have been detained at the airport in different locations by ICE due to their immigration status.”

These arrests occur amidst an uptick in ICE operations in Miami, where the agency processed nearly 6,000 immigrants in July 2023, making the city a focal point for immigration enforcement in the U.S.