Colombian DJ Tunjo and Husband Detained by ICE Ahead of U.S. Tour

DJ Tunjo and his spouse Santiago Páez were taken into ICE custody at Chicago Midway before their planned after-party circuit linked to Karol G concerts, halting the tour before it began.

Omar David Panqueva, known as DJ Tunjo, and his husband Santiago Páez were seized by ICE agents at Chicago Midway Airport while preparing to board a flight to Washington, D.C., the first stop of a planned U.S. after-party tour tied to Karol G concerts. Homeland Security officials cited the expiration of their tourist visas in 2022 as the reason for detention, and the duo was transferred to an Indiana facility. Their legal counsel argues that both men submitted asylum applications within the required timeframe and possess active work permits and Social Security numbers.

The sudden arrests ended the anticipated tour, which the artist had billed as a major career milestone, and prompted a community-driven fundraising campaign to cover legal costs. Santiago’s sister says the couple fled Colombia due to LGBTQ+ persecution, and a hearing for Páez is set for August 19 while their lawyers seek to keep the pair together during the pending asylum process. The case occurs amid reports of rising airport immigration arrests following a 2025 information-sharing pact between TSA and ICE.