Chicago DJ and Husband Released on Bond After ICE Arrest

Their detention routed a pending asylum claim directly into the immigration court system, a move that is likely to prolong resolution for years.

Overview

The couple were arrested at Midway International Airport on Aug. 2 while preparing to fly to Washington, D.C., and were held in a federal facility in Clay County, Indiana.
They were released on bond and returned to Chicago on Aug. 12 but remain in removal proceedings and must continue their legal fight to remain in the United States.
Omar David Panqueva Rojas, known as DJ TUNJO, and his husband Santiago Páez applied for asylum and work permits after arriving in 2021 and have no criminal records according to court filings.
Because they were detained, their asylum claim will bypass initial review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and go straight to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a route that is more adversarial and can take years because of court backlogs.
Supporters and promoters have launched fundraising and public advocacy for the couple while Panqueva Rojas pauses touring, and lawyers warn that current enforcement that detains people with an 'authorized period of stay' is making similar asylum seekers more vulnerable to arrest.