The Cuban rapper Eliecer Márquez Duany, known as El Funky, can finally breathe in peace, after months of uncertainty and a process filled with obstacles, he obtained permanent residency in the United States.
The news comes after the artist himself warned, last May, that he was about to be deported to Cuba, a scenario he described as “returning to hell.”
“We are celebrating after so much effort and work, I am a U.S. resident, super happy with today”, said the musician in a statement to Telemundo 51, alongside his lawyer Miguel Inda-Romero.
Just four months ago, El Funky warned on his social media that he had “30 days to leave the country or face deportation.” In interviews and posts, he reported that the Cuban regime had fabricated charges against him, false backgrounds that complicated his immigration process in the U.S.
The situation generated a wave of solidarity among the Cuban exile community and among human rights activists. The artist himself admitted on the program Destino Tolk that returning to the island would mean persecution, imprisonment, and the end of his life in freedom: “I escaped from hell. You know what it’s like to go back. For me, that would be suicide.”
The role of your lawyer and the political message
His lawyer, Miguel Inda-Romero, celebrated on Facebook what he described as a victory for the Cuban exile community against the regime:
"Today, not only did El Funky win, but we all won who love freedom. (…) While we celebrate this victory, we do so with sadness for the more than 1,150 political prisoners who remain unjustly detained in Cuba, especially your brother Maykel [Castillo ‘El Osorbo’]."
The jurist recalled that the residence had initially been denied and that it was necessary to appeal, reopen the case, and submit a waiver until the final approval was obtained.
El Funky has become a symbol of Cuban resistance since he was part of the song “Patria y Vida”, the anthem of the protests on July 11, 2021, which earned him two Grammy awards and international recognition as the voice of the San Isidro Movement.
Persecuted on the island, he traveled to Miami in 2021 with temporary permission to attend the Latin Grammy and never returned. Since then, his political activism and music have kept him on the radar of Havana, while he faced a migratory path filled with obstacles in the U.S.
Today, with the residency in hand, the rapper asserts that he will be able to continue building a future for himself and his family, without the threat of being sent back to a country where, as he himself warned, “siege, persecution, and prison” awaited him.
Frequently Asked Questions about El Funky's Residency in the U.S. and His Political Situation
How did El Funky manage to obtain permanent residency in the United States?
El Funky obtained permanent residency in the U.S. after a challenging process, which included the appeal and reopening of his case with the assistance of his attorney, Miguel Inda-Romero. His case was initially complicated by fabricated criminal records from the Cuban regime, leading to an initial denial of his residency. However, his legal team submitted a pardon and other measures until they achieved final approval.
Why did El Funky consider his possible deportation to Cuba as a return to "hell"?
El Funky described the possibility of returning to Cuba as a "return to hell" because he would face persecution, imprisonment, and the end of his life in freedom, due to his political activism and opposition to the Cuban regime. In Cuba, he had been pursued for his connections to the San Isidro Movement and his participation in the song "Patria y Vida," a critical anthem against the Cuban government.
What was the role of El Funky's lawyer in obtaining his residency?
The lawyer for El Funky, Miguel Inda-Romero, was crucial in the appeal and reopening of his case, which allowed for the reversal of the initial denial of his residency in the U.S. Inda-Romero celebrated the achievement not only as a personal victory for El Funky, but as a triumph for all those fighting for freedom against the Cuban regime.
What does El Funky symbolize in the context of Cuban resistance?
El Funky has become a symbol of Cuban resistance for his participation in the song "Patria y Vida," which became an anthem for the protests on July 11, 2021. His activism and music have been a direct challenge to the Cuban regime, earning him international recognition and two Grammy awards. His case also highlights the struggle of exiled Cubans to obtain asylum and protection in the United States.
Filed under:
