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Colombian DJ and husband detained by ICE at Chicago airport, later released on bond

Aug 6, 2026 · Chicago, IL, Colombia

Colombian DJ and husband detained by ICE at Chicago airport, later released on bond

Omar David Panqueva, a Colombian DJ known as DJ Tunjo, and his husband Santiago Páez were arrested by ICE agents at Chicago's Midway International Airport as they prepared to fly out and join reggaeton star Karol G's tour for DJ after-parties. The couple, both members of the LGBTQ+ community, had applied for asylum due to persecution they faced in Colombia and held work permits while their case was pending, though their visas had expired in 2022. Panqueva had recently performed at Chicago's Fiesta del Sol and the Sueños music festival and was planning a tour to Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. He described being 'chained, handcuffed on a bus with bars' during the arrest. The couple was held in Indiana and released on bond on August 12 after supporters rallied around them, with their immigration case continuing in court and a hearing scheduled for August 19.

Timeline

Aug 19, 2026Court hearing scheduled in their immigration case
Aug 12, 2026Couple released on bond after being held in Indiana
Aug 6, 2026Omar David Panqueva (DJ Tunjo) and husband Santiago Páez arrested by ICE at Midway Airport, Chicago

Sources

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