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The Cuban singer Ovidio Crespo, artistically known as Ovi, broke his silence about one of the most challenging moments of his life during a recent interview with La Familia Cubana, where he confessed that he was close to being deported to Cuba after being arrested and taken into custody by the immigration system in the United States.
“I had a problem with a case, a misunderstanding with a person. I was arrested and placed in immigration hold. I was in Krome for three months,” recounted the artist. “They wanted to send me back to Cuba again.”
Ovi explained that, faced with the possibility of being repatriated, he considered desperate alternatives. "I have nothing there. I thought: I'm not leaving the airport in Cuba. I'll book another ticket to Colombia or Mexico and I'll make corridos tumbados."
During the interview, the singer acknowledged that the hardest part of the entire process was the possibility of being separated from his mother and his son. "What suffocated me was that I wouldn't see my mom and my son. When I was at immigration, the only one who was there was my mom. If I hadn't had my mom here, I don't know what I would have done."
Ovi recounted that he had to face a long and complex legal process to avoid deportation. “I had to fight my immigration case for about three months going to court, and they granted me the waiver. You can only request that once in a lifetime, and they granted it to me,” he noted. “They forgive you for everything and send the paperwork back to you.”
The artist expressed gratitude for the legal and familial support he received during his time at the Krome Processing Center in South Florida. “I was an angel in Krome, which is why I was granted forgiveness. My taxes were in order and my lawyer was excellent.”
One of the hardest moments he experienced during his confinement was finding out about the death of the Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger, which occurred on his birthday. “That changed my mindset. I felt suffocated inside and I changed my mentality because we must be grateful that we are alive,” he reflected.
Despite the conditions of the center, Ovi assured that he was trying to stay positive. “It was like camping, but the bad part is you don't know where they are going to send you. Every day you wonder about that. Imagine going back to Cuba again... The Dominicans are happy to return to the Dominican Republic, the Colombians too. For the Cubans, nobody wanted to go back to Cuba.”
Frequently asked questions about Ovi's immigration situation and immigration policy in the U.S.
Why was Ovi almost deported to Cuba?
Ovi faced the possibility of deportation due to a legal incident that led to his arrest and custody by the immigration system in the United States. For three months, he was at the Krome Processing Center, fighting against his deportation, until he finally received a legal pardon, something that can only be applied for once in a lifetime.
What is the legal pardon that Ovi received and how did it help him?
The legal pardon received by Ovi is a migratory measure that can be requested only once in a lifetime and allows the cancellation of certain legal records that prevent one from staying in the United States. This pardon enabled Ovi to continue his life in the country without being deported, following a legal process that lasted three months.
What challenges do Cuban migrants face in the United States currently?
Cuban migrants in the United States face challenges such as the tightening of immigration policies and the possibility of deportation. Recent changes in immigration policy, such as the revocation of humanitarian "parole" and pauses in residency processes, have created uncertainty and concern within the Cuban migrant community.
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