A Latin Grammy-winning musician was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Miami International Airport on August 19, following a performance in New York City. Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda, a 39-year-old Cuban-born percussionist and jazz artist, faces potential deportation as his asylum case is processed.
Bofill, who won a 2022 Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album 'Ancestros Sinfónico,' was apprehended by ICE agents upon his arrival in Miami. He was subsequently transferred to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County. His wife, Mara Delgado, is actively seeking his release, expressing fears of separation.
"I'm concerned about him getting deported, because I don't know when I will be able to see him again," Delgado told CBS News Miami. She described the moment of his detention as "awful" and stated that her husband has a pending asylum case he wishes to pursue outside of detention.
ICE confirmed that Bofill legally entered the United States on April 15, 2023, but stated that he has since violated the terms of his admission and is in violation of immigration law. An ICE spokesperson assured that Bofill will receive due process.
Delgado highlighted her husband's contributions to the music community, noting he has been a Latin Recording Academy voter since January 2025 and is considered a significant figure in Miami's music scene. She has launched an online fundraiser to cover legal expenses associated with his case, with a goal of $60,000, and has already received substantial community support.
Bofill and Delgado met in Cuba and married in 2023, the same year Bofill arrived in the U.S. His wife is hopeful for his release while his asylum proceedings are ongoing. 
