Indian jazz musician Pritesh Walia was released on bond after spending 14 days in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

The New Delhi-born musician was detained on August 2 after returning to Los Angeles and was later taken to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California. Walia announced his release in a video shared on social media, describing his detention as one of the most difficult experiences of his life.

Walia thanked his family, girlfriend, lawyer and members of the jazz and music community for supporting him during his detention. He said the uncertainty surrounding his situation made the experience particularly difficult.

Walia began learning Indian Classical Music at the age of 13 in India before travelling to the United States to pursue higher education in music. According to his official website, he earned an Associate’s degree from the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, followed by a Bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory.

He later established himself in the US jazz and music community and developed a substantial online following. His Instagram account has more than 57,000 followers.

After his detention, Walia’s friend Liza used his Instagram account to inform followers about his situation. She said his personal belongings, including his phone, were taken when he was detained and that his family and attorneys were working to secure his release.

There has been no official statement from ICE regarding Walia’s detention. Walia has also not disclosed the specifics of his visa status. An older fundraiser related to his medical treatment had stated that he obtained an artist visa to remain in the US.

Reflecting on his 14 days in detention, Walia said it was easy to lose hope while inside a detention facility. He said messages from people supporting him and efforts by the music community gave him something to hold onto.

Following his release, Walia said he planned to take a few days to heal, breathe and spend time with his loved ones.

Walia has also faced significant personal health challenges. According to his website, he was diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions several years ago and has described experiencing symptoms including persistent vertigo, dissociation, oscillopsia, blurred vision and balance problems.