Colombian DJ and his husband detained by ICE before embarking on a tour tied to Karol G’s concerts

Everything was set for DJ Tunjo to embark on a U.S. tour hosting unofficial after-parties following concerts by fellow Colombian, superstar Karol G. But the tour ended before it even began. Omar David Panqueva, professionally known as DJ Tunjo, and his husband, Santiago Páez, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after arriving at Chicago Midway Airport to board a flight to Washington, D.C., the first stop of the tour. The arrests have sparked concern among family members, colleagues, and Chicago’s Latino arts community.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the couple was arrested for remaining in the United States after their tourist visas expired. The agency said the visas lapsed in 2022, leading to their placement in immigration custody. They were later transferred to a detention facility in Indiana.

However, the couple’s legal team argues that both men applied for asylum within the time frame required by law and that their cases remain pending. Their attorney, Enrique Espinoza, said Panqueva and Páez have valid work permits and Social Security numbers and have complied with every requirement imposed by immigration authorities while their asylum applications are being processed.

The arrests abruptly halted what was expected to be a major milestone in DJ Tunjo’s career. The Colombian artist had planned to travel across several U.S. cities hosting after-parties following Karol G’s concerts, a project he had announced weeks earlier as one of the biggest opportunities of his professional life.

In recent months, Panqueva had become an increasingly recognizable figure in Chicago’s Latino music scene. He performed at the Sueños Music Festival in May and later appeared at other events across the city, establishing himself as one of the promoters of spaces dedicated to Latin American music and culture.

Family members told Block Club Chicago that the couple moved to Chicago in 2021 and have since focused on projects aimed at bringing together the Latino community through music. In addition to DJ Tunjo’s performances, they organized initiatives supporting emerging artists and creating cultural events.

Santiago Páez’s sister said the couple left Colombia because they faced persecution as members of the LGBTQ+ community, prompting them to seek asylum in the United States. The family has also expressed concern that the spouses remain separated inside the detention facility while awaiting developments in their immigration cases.

The legal process is ongoing. According to immigration records cited by multiple news outlets, Páez is scheduled to appear before an immigration judge on August 19, while the couple’s legal team is seeking to keep them together and allow them to continue pursuing their asylum case.

Following news of the arrests, music promoters, artists, and supporters launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the couple’s legal expenses. The effort has raised thousands of dollars and received strong backing from members of Chicago’s arts community, who credit DJ Tunjo with promoting Latino culture and creating welcoming spaces for immigrants.

The case comes amid reports of an increase in immigration arrests at U.S. airports. Various reports indicate that immigration authorities have stepped up the detention of people with expired visas, even when they have active immigration proceedings pending. The increase coincides with expanded cooperation between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and ICE to share information about non-U.S. citizen travelers following an information-sharing agreement signed by the two agencies in 2025.

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