Indian musician released on bond after 14 days in US immigration custody

Indian musician Pritesh Walia has been released on bond after 14 days in ICE detention. The jazz artist was taken into custody earlier this month after returning to Los Angeles. He said he feels "completely broken" at times as he remains uncertain about what will happen to him.

Walia, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 2, announced his release on bond in a video shared on social media. Reflecting on his time in detention, the New Delhi-born musician described the period as one of the most difficult experiences of his life.

"It's something I would not wish on anyone," Walia said, while thanking his family, girlfriend, lawyer and members of the music community who supported him during the ordeal.

WHAT LED TO PRITESH WALIA'S ICE DETENTION?

According to Walia's friend Liza, the musician was detained by ICE on August 2 after the two returned to Los Angeles. He was subsequently taken to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California. Liza had earlier used Walia's Instagram account to inform his followers about the detention.

"This is Liza. I'm currently managing Pritesh's account on his behalf. On Sunday night, August 2, after we returned to Los Angeles, Pritesh was unexpectedly detained by ICE and taken into custody. He has since been transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. His personal belongings, including his phone, were taken upon detention, and he currently has no access to them."

She said Walia's family and attorneys were working to secure his release.

"His family and I are actively working with attorneys to address the situation and secure his release as soon as possible. We'll share further updates when we are able. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and offered support," she wrote.

There has been no official statement from ICE about Walia's detention. Walia himself has not revealed the specifics of his visa status. However, an older fundraiser related to his medical treatment had stated that he obtained an artist visa to remain in the US.

'I LOST HOPE ALL THE TIME'

In a separate Instagram post, he wrote: "14 days that changed me forever. Grateful beyond words for my family, my girlfriend, my lawyer, and every single person who stood by me. The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity YOU gave me hope. Taking a few days to heal, breathe, and be with my loved ones. Thank you."

For Walia, the hardest part of detention was not knowing what would happen next.

"When you are sitting in a detention facility, the world feels very small. And it's very easy to lose hope, and I lost hope all the time," he said.

He said messages of support from outside the facility helped him get through those moments.

"But hearing that so many people had come together, that people were fighting for me, that there were hundreds of messages waiting for me, it gave me something to hold onto. It reminded me that kindness is still real and alive," Walia said.

The musician also spoke about the support he received from the wider jazz and music community, saying it helped restore his faith during a time when he felt isolated from the outside world. Walia said he would now take some time away from the spotlight to recover and spend time with those closest to him.

FROM NEW DELHI TO THE US JAZZ SCENE

Walia's journey in music began in India long before he moved to the United States. According to his official website, he was born in New Delhi and started learning Indian Classical Music at the age of 13. He later travelled to the US to pursue higher education in music, building an academic background that took him through several major music institutions. He earned an Associate's degree from the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, followed by a Bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory.

Over the years, Walia established himself within the US jazz and music community and developed a substantial following online. His Instagram account has more than 57,000 followers, many of whom followed updates about his detention and subsequent release.

His musical career, however, has unfolded alongside significant personal health challenges. According to his website, Walia was diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions several years ago. He has described experiencing symptoms including persistent vertigo, dissociation, oscillopsia, blurred vision and problems with balance.

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