Imagine having your dream within reach, only to be held back by an ankle monitor. Tunisian singer Rami Othmane’s journey to finish his music is turning into an unexpected battle against deportation. He’s facing challenges that could silence his voice permanently. What would you do if your passion was put on hold by unforeseen circumstances?

In a compelling narrative that intertwines artistic ambition with the complexities of immigration policy, Tunisian singer Rami Othmane finds his music career in jeopardy as he navigates a challenging legal battle against deportation. Despite his music being ready for release, Othmane, 36, is currently under an ankle monitor, a constant reminder of his recent 13-day detention by U.S. immigration agents and the precariousness of his status while seeking a green card.

Othmane’s ordeal began on July 13 when he was arrested as part of a regional immigration crackdown. His wife, Alrashid, recounted the “undignifying” conditions he endured during his detention at the B-18 facility in downtown Los Angeles. These conditions included a severe lack of basic hygiene items like soap and toothpaste, followed by a harrowing three-hour bus journey to a Phoenix courtroom without air-conditioning, leading Othmane to fear for his life, stating, “The fear is beyond being deported. The fear is they put me in that same place and I die there.”

Othmane’s case is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a broader pattern affecting international musicians. Since January, numerous artists have faced similar fates, including British singer ICE, who was deported for overstaying her visa, a New Zealand reggae singer detained and deported before a Washington festival performance, and a Czech clarinetist refused entry at Detroit Metro Airport. These incidents highlight an intensified focus on immigration enforcement impacting the global artistic community.

Responding to inquiries, a senior Department of Homeland Security official labeled Othmane an “illegal alien,” asserting that his B-2 tourist visa expired more than nine years ago. The official also defended the detention conditions, claiming that the healthcare provided is often superior to what many individuals have received in their entire lives and that meals are certified by dieticians, with inmate safety being a top priority at ICE facilities.

Alrashid clarified Othmane’s complex immigration history, noting his previous marriage to a U.S. citizen, which granted him a work permit and a green card application status. Following their divorce, he lost both. After multiple COVID-related court delays, a judge halted his deportation in 2022. Since marrying Alrashid last year, Othmane successfully regained his work permit and filed a new green card application, which he presented to agents during his recent arrest while driving to a grocery store.

The physical and emotional toll of his detention and the ongoing restrictions are evident. Othmane, recently released, described his voice as raspy, a direct result of the chilly conditions at B-18. The ankle monitor imposes a 70-mile travel limit, severely impacting his ability to access his preferred recording studio and complete his song “Faman Allah,” which requires specific mixing and mastering that understands Arabic music traditions, often necessitating travel.

Othmane voiced profound criticism of the system, asserting that his human rights and dignity were disregarded. “They take your humanity, they take your dignity. They see you as an object,” he stated, contrasting his experience with the expectation of safety and human rights in the U.S. He expressed concern for his U.S. citizen wife and fears of wrongful arrests, emphasizing that his critique targets the system itself, not the country he still admires.

Beyond his personal plight, Othmane underscored the vital role immigrant musicians play in their communities, providing essential cultural and entertainment services for events like weddings. He passionately articulated how the detention and deportation of these artists not only impacts individuals but also severely disrupts and diminishes the vibrant cultural fabric of the communities they serve and connect with.