The Cuban percussionist Degnis Bofill, a Latin Grammy winner, was released by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a report this Thursday by Telemundo 51 journalist Maylin Legañoa.
“Breaking news, ICE has released Cuban musician Degnis Bofill, winner of a Latin Grammy. This morning, I spoke with him through his Instagram account, thanking him for the report we did on Telemundo 51 about his case.”, declared Legañoa.
The communicator did not reveal any other details about the circumstances of the musician's release.
As of the publication of this note, Bofill has not publicly commented on his release on his social media.
Solidarity with another musician imprisoned after his release
Although the musician has not published anything about his own release, an Instagram story shows one of his first public reactions after regaining freedom: he shared a petition on GoFundMe for the release of Cuban pianist Andy García Palacios, from the Hermanos García of Miami, who has also been in ICE custody for several days.
The campaign still needed to raise $18,980 to reach its goal at the time Bofill shared it.
García Palacios was arrested on August 15 at the Los Angeles International Airport, four days before Bofill's arrest. ICE claims that his authorization to remain in the United States expired on May 27, 2024.
Both cases generated a wave of solidarity within the Cuban and Latin community, with figures such as the legendary pianist Chucho Valdés publicly expressing their sorrow.
An arrest that shocked the music community
Bofill had been arrested on August 19 by ICE agents at Miami International Airport while returning from New York, where he had participated in the Latin Alternative Music Conference and performed at the Pocket Jazz Club in Midtown Manhattan.
According to a statement from ICE, the musician entered the country legally on April 15, 2023, but the agency asserted that he did not comply with the terms of his admission.
However, her lawyer, identified as González in the coverage from Telemundo 51, provided a different account: Bofill entered with a J-1 visa and, before it expired, applied for political asylum.
"With an asylum application pending, there should be no issue," argued the lawyer, who further explained that the J-1 visa requires leaving the country for two years, unless a waiver can be obtained through a resident spouse or for political reasons.
Bofill is married to Mara Delgado, a resident of the United States.
After his arrest, the percussionist spent several days in ICE facilities in Miramar before being transferred to the Krome North Processing Center in Miami-Dade.
The campaign that mobilized hundreds of donors
During his detention, the musician's wife organized a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses, which raised over 51,700 dollars from more than 600 donors.
"Degnis is not only my partner, my pillar, and my support. He is also a beloved member of Miami's musical community: an educator, founder of the group Golpes Libres, and one of the most prominent percussionists of his generation," wrote Delgado in the campaign.
Born in Manzanillo in 1987, Bofill won the 2022 Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album for his participation in Ancestros Sinfónico by Síntesis, X Alfonso, and Eme Alfonso, and has recorded over 28 albums.
The arrest of Bofill occurred against the backdrop of an intensification of migration operations under the Trump administration. According to data from the Cato Institute, the arrests of Cubans by ICE increased by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026. More than 42,000 Cubans have final deportation orders pending in U.S. territory.
El caso de Degnis Bofill es uno de los muchos que involucran a cubanos enfrentando procesos migratorios en Estados Unidos. Sigue todos los detalles en nuestra sección de
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