Cuban Percussionist’s Wife Seeks Help After Husband’s Detention by ICE

A Cuban musician’s detention at Miami International Airport has prompted his wife to seek assistance for his release, fearing deportation might separate them indefinitely.

Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda, a renowned Cuban percussionist and composer, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 19 after he arrived from New York. His wife, Mara Delgado, is now urgently requesting help to secure his return.

Delgado expressed her distress regarding her husband’s possible deportation, emphasizing her uncertainty about when they might reunite. Bofill was moved to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County after spending several days at the Miramar ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office.

“I’m concerned about him getting deported, because I don’t know when I will be able to see him again,” Delgado stated.

The couple’s journey began in Cuba, leading to their marriage in 2023. Delgado described the drastic change when Bofill was taken into custody, and noted that he has a pending asylum case he wishes to pursue from outside detention.

ICE confirmed Bofill’s arrest, highlighting that he entered the United States legally on April 15, 2023 but later violated the terms of his admission. Consequently, Bofill now faces immigration law violations and will undergo due process.

Bofill is recognized among musicians for his contributions, having won the 2022 Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album with “Ancestros Sinfónico.” Delgado shared that her husband has been part of the Latin Recording Academy’s voting body since January 2025. She describes him as a significant figure in Miami’s music scene, currently facing separation from his family, his community, and his music.

In response to these circumstances, Delgado initiated an online fundraiser to cover legal expenses and a potential bond, setting a $60,000 target. By Monday night, the South Florida community had already offered substantial support. Despite these efforts, her main focus remains on securing Bofill’s release while awaiting his immigration case’s progression.

“I started panicking, because with everything that’s been going on, I knew it’s always a possibility with us, immigrants,” Delgado remarked.