Havana/Cuban pianist Andy García Palacios was released on bail this Friday, after spending almost a month in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) in California. The departure of the musician was confirmed by his lawyerAvelino González, to journalist Maylin Legañoa, from Telemundo 51.
“With this release, the two Cuban musicians who had been detained by ICE agents are now free on bail, awaiting their immigration processes,” said Legañoa. He another artist referred to is the percussionist Degnis Bofill, winner of a Latin Grammy, released on September 3 after being detained in Miami for more than two weeks.
García Palacios, 30, had been arrested on August 15 at Los Angeles International Airport and later transferred to the Adelanto Processing Center in California. ICE then confirmed to Telemundo 51 that it was not a chance encounter with agents, but rather a “targeted enforcement operation.”
His lawyer explained that the pianist had entered the United States legally and was awaiting the resolution of a procedure to obtain permanent residence, a process that had suffered delays.
According to the agency, García Palacios had received authorization to remain legally in the United States until May 27, 2024, but continued in the country after that date. After detaining him, ICE served him with a notice to appear before an immigration judge and initiated removal proceedings.
His lawyer, however, explained that the pianist had entered the United States legally and was awaiting the resolution of a procedure to obtain permanent residence, a process that, according to González, had suffered delays. The defense had maintained since August that the musician met the conditions to receive bail, including the absence of a criminal record and the fact that he did not represent a risk to the community or a flight risk.
“They were waiting for him,” González said then about the agents who intercepted García Palacios in Los Angeles. ICE’s own version corroborated that the operation was specifically aimed at locating the pianist. His release this Friday does not resolve, however, his immigration situation, and García must continue the procedure opened by the US authorities out of custody.
The arrest caused a strong mobilization among Cuban musicians inside and outside the United States. Chucho Valdés publicly expressed his concern and described García Palacios as one of the great representatives of the new generation of musicians on the Island. Diana Fuentes and Eme Alfonso also asked for his release.
The two cases occurred in the midst of the tightening of the immigration policy of the Donald Trump Administration
His brother Yandy García also opened a fundraising campaign to cover legal expenses. Both are part of García Brothers, a musical project based in Miami. The family then explained that the arrest had forced the pianist to miss performances, recordings and other professional commitments.
Four days after García Palacios’ arrest, ICE detained Bofill at Miami International Airport as he returned from New York. The percussionist remained held at the Krome North Processing Center until his releasealso on bail, on September 3. After leaving the center, Bofill publicly asked for support for García Palacios, who was still detained in California.
The two cases occurred amid the tightening of the immigration policy of the Donald Trump Administration, which has increased the detentions of foreigners with pending procedures or whose authorized stay in the country has expired. García Palacios is now out of the detention center, but his battle to remain in the United States continues.
