The Cuban pianist Andy García Palacios broke his silence this Friday with a statement posted on his Instagram account in which he expressed gratitude for the massive support received during his detention and confirmed that he is now home with his family, although he warned that his immigration situation is not resolved.
"Family, there aren't enough words to thank you for all the love and support I received during these days," wrote the 30-year-old musician in the message, published in Spanish and English.
The text acknowledges the solidarity of friends, colleagues, artists, and strangers who supported him during nearly a month of confinement at the Adelanto Immigration Processing Center in California, where he was taken following his arrest.
El caso de Andy García Palacios es uno de los muchos procesos migratorios que siguen abiertos en EE.UU. Para estar al tanto de las últimas novedades sobre detenciones, deportaciones y derechos de los inmigrantes, sigue nuestra sección de
"Thank you to my entire legal team for their work, dedication, and commitment during this process," he added, before making it clear that the legal battle continues: "The process is not over yet and is still ongoing, but today I can express my gratitude for being home, with my family and loved ones, and that I can continue what lies ahead from here."
The statement concluded with a phrase that encapsulated the tone of gratitude throughout the message: “Thank you for not leaving us alone. Thank you for being here. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”
García Palacios had been arrested by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 15 at Los Angeles International Airport when returning from an artistic performance.
His lawyer, Avelino González, revealed that the agents "were waiting for him" at the airport, indicating that it was a planned operation.
ICE argued that the musician's authorization to remain in the United States expired in May 2024, which means he is facing a removal process. The defense, on the other hand, maintained that he entered the country legally, has an active political asylum application, and has no criminal record.
After the arrest, his brother Yandy García launched a fundraising campaign from Miami with a goal of 45,000 dollars to cover legal expenses; as of August 21, he had already exceeded 40,000 dollars with nearly 600 donors.
The case has generated a significant wave of solidarity in the Cuban and Latin musical community. Maestro Chucho Valdés publicly expressed his sorrow over the arrest and had previously described García Palacios as "the best pianist of the new Cuban generation."
The singer Diana Fuentes also spoke up and emphasized that "Andy has been living in the United States for three years and has no criminal record."
The release on bail of the pianist was confirmed by González to journalist Maylin Legañoa from Telemundo 51, who noted that “the two Cuban musicians who had been detained by ICE agents are now free on bail, awaiting their immigration processes.”
The other musician referred to by Legañoa is the percussionist Degnis Bofill, a Latin Grammy winner, who was detained on August 19 at Miami Airport and released on September 3 after more than two weeks at the Krome North Processing Center.
Both cases fall within an unprecedented tightening of U.S. immigration policy: according to data from the Cato Institute cited in April 2026, detentions of Cubans by ICE increased by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, and more than 42,000 Cubans have pending final deportation orders in U.S. territory.
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