chicagotribune Local DJ and rising star Omar David Panqueva, who goes by the stage name DJ TUNJO, and his husband, Santiago Páez, have been released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on bond. But their legal fight to stay in the United States is far from over.⁠ ⁠ Panqueva, 26, and Páez, 27, of Colombia, were arrested by ICE agents at Midway International Airport on Aug. 2, where they were set to board a flight to the nation’s capital, then to follow reggaeton superstar Karol G’s tour across the country to DJ a series of after-parties.⁠ ⁠ Now, after being released on Aug. 12, the tour and their careers are on pause as they fight to obtain legal status in the United States. While it’s possible for DJ TUNJO to headline more Karol G after-parties, it’s uncertain.⁠ ⁠ “This is our city. We moved here because this is our safe space. We were reborn here in many ways,” said Panqueva, who was seeking asylum with his husband because of the persecution they faced in Colombia as members of the LGBTQ+ community. “We have a big community here that we are always looking to give back to, to do things for. So for us seeing ourselves chained, handcuffed on a bus with bars, taken out of Chicago … we were crying and crying.”⁠ ⁠ Tap on our bio link to read more. ⁠ ⁠ -----⁠ ⁠ Photo: Omar David Panqueva, known as DJ TUNJO, left, and his husband, Santiago Páez, at Galeria Chicago on Aug. 18, 2026. ⁠ ⁠ 📝 Allison Kiehl / Chicago Tribune⁠ 📷️ John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune View all 27 comments