The acclaimed Cuban musician Alejandro Infante, who is famously known as "El Pollo" and serves as the guitarist for the band Qva Libre, has been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Texas. This development was confirmed on Thursday by Carlos Díaz Soto, the band's director.
Díaz relayed the news of Infante's arrest via a video on Instagram, revealing that the detention occurred two days earlier and that Infante is currently held in migration custody.
"Alejandro Infante, or as many of you know him, 'El Pollo,' has been a long-standing guitarist with Qva Libre and has also played alongside renowned artists like Chacal and Gente de Zona. Throughout his career, he has performed with numerous artists both in Miami and Cuba," stated Díaz.
The director further explained that Infante's family and friends are actively working towards his release and requested financial support to cover the costs associated with his legal case.
"Unfortunately, ICE detained him two days ago in Texas. At this moment, he remains in custody there. We are exploring every possible avenue to ensure El Pollo can return home," Díaz added.
In response to the situation, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise funds primarily for Infante's legal defense.
"For years, Alejandro has shared his music and talent with countless individuals. Today, we need the community to extend a helping hand to him," the campaign emphasizes.
Organizers have highlighted the family's current "uncertain and distressing" situation, stressing the urgency due to high legal fees and other related expenses for his immigration defense.
Giselle Paret, an immigration advisor, shared the fundraising effort and noted that Infante entered the U.S. legally under humanitarian parole and was awaiting residency processing under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Infante boasts a notable presence in the Cuban alternative music scene. An interview published by OnCuba years ago identified him as a guitarist for Qva Libre since 2010, following his studies under Carlos Díaz.
He arrived in the United States in March 2023 with singer Margarita Morales, known as Magui Blue. His arrival marked the reunion of all Qva Libre members in Miami after a period of separation.
The arrest of "El Pollo" follows the recent detentions of other Cuban musicians, raising concern within the Cuban music community.
On August 15, pianist Andy García Palacios was detained by ICE at Los Angeles International Airport, and percussionist Degnis Bofill, a Latin Grammy winner, was arrested shortly after at Miami International Airport.
Both musicians were subsequently released on bail, though their immigration processes remain ongoing.
Bofill was freed from custody on September 3 after over two weeks of detention, and García Palacios was released after nearly a month at the Adelanto Processing Center in California. Post-release, García Palacios confirmed his process was still unresolved.
Throughout 2026, there have been other incidents involving Cubans detained by ICE despite having pending immigration cases.
In October, a Cuban who entered with humanitarian parole and applied for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act was detained while working as an Uber driver.
Earlier in the year, another Cuban resident in Texas spent several months in ICE custody despite entering legally and having a pending adjustment of status application.
Key Information About Cuban Musicians and ICE Detentions
Who is Alejandro Infante and why was he detained?
Alejandro Infante, also known as "El Pollo," is a Cuban musician and guitarist for Qva Libre. He was detained by ICE in Texas while awaiting residency processing under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
What is the current status of Infante's case?
Infante remains in custody as family and friends pursue legal avenues for his release, with a GoFundMe campaign underway to support his legal defense.
How are other Cuban musicians affected by ICE detentions?
Other Cuban musicians, including Andy García Palacios and Degnis Bofill, have also been detained by ICE, but were released on bail. Their immigration cases continue to unfold.