Musician Pritesh Walia, arrested by ICE for staying in US after visa expired, released
"When you are in a detention center, the world feels very small. It is very easy to lose hope at times like that, and I, too, lost hope repeatedly. But when I learned that so many people had united, were fighting for me, and that hundreds of messages had arrived for me, I found a reason to keep going or to stand firm. It reminded me that compassion is still real and alive,"
LOS ANGELES:- Pritesh Walia, a musician of Indian origin, has been released after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on allegations of overstaying his visa.
According to a statement issued by Walia, he was taken into custody by ICE in Los Angeles on August 2 and held in detention before being transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.
After his release, he posted a video detailing the hardships he endured while in custody. He described feeling “fear, despair, and completely broken.”
He stated that he had been released on bail; upon returning home, he expressed his gratitude to the judges, lawyers, his girlfriend, family, and members of the music industry who had supported him during his detention.
“These 14 days have changed me forever. I am indescribably grateful to my family, my girlfriend, my lawyer, and everyone who supported me. The love I received from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity; you gave me hope. Now, I want to rest for a few days, breathe easy, and spend time with my loved ones. Thank you,” he wrote on Instagram.
“When you are in a detention center, the world feels very small. It is very easy to lose hope at times like that, and I, too, lost hope repeatedly. But when I learned that so many people had united, were fighting for me, and that hundreds of messages had arrived for me, I found a reason to keep going or to stand firm. It reminded me that compassion is still real and alive,” Waliyah said in the video.
