Wife of Cuban Musician in ICE Detention Seeks Help
The wife of a Cuban musician detained at Miami International Airport is urgently calling for his release, fearing deportation could separate them indefinitely. Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda, a 39-year-old percussionist and composer, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 19 after flying in from New York.
Mara Delgado, Bofill’s wife, expressed her distress to CBS News Miami, emphasizing her concerns over the uncertainty of seeing her husband again. She explained that her husband was transferred from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Miramar to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County.
“I’m worried about him being deported, not knowing when we will reunite,” Delgado shared.
The couple, who married in Cuba in 2023, faced a drastic change when Bofill was taken into custody. Delgado highlighted that her husband has a pending asylum application and wants to continue this process outside of detention. ICE cited his violation of immigration admission terms as the reason for his arrest.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Miami that Bofill, identified as an illegal alien from Cuba, was detained due to non-compliance with admission terms, despite entering the U.S. legally in April 2023. The spokesperson assured that Bofill would receive due process.
Delgado wants the public to recognize her husband’s contributions to the music community. Bofill gained recognition among his musical peers, winning a 2022 Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album for “Ancestros Sinfónico” and joining the Latin Recording Academy’s voting body as of January 2025.
Describing Bofill as a vital part of Miami’s music scene, Delgado lamented his current situation, as he remains separated from his family and work. She has sought community support, launching an online fundraiser to manage legal fees and bond expenses, aiming to raise $60,000. Already, the South Florida community has provided considerable support.
Her ultimate goal is to secure her husband’s release from detention to allow his immigration case to proceed.