Indian-born jazz guitarist, composer and educator Pritesh Walia has been released on bond after spending 14 days in US immigration detention.
According to a statement shared through his social-media account, Walia was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on August 2 after returning to Los Angeles. Following his release, he thanked supporters and said he intended to take some time away from public engagements before returning to music.
Walia had been scheduled to perform at an album-release concert in Los Angeles on August 6. His detention prompted concern among fellow musicians, students and members of the wider jazz community.
Publicly available information does not clearly establish the immigration grounds for his detention, the amount of the bond or the conditions imposed upon his release. No final immigration ruling has been reported.
The case should therefore be treated as an individual immigration proceeding rather than evidence of a new ICE policy affecting all Indian nationals or visa holders.
