Deportation looking increasingly likely for local DJ/artist Kutmah

Despite the fund-raising events and online petitions circulated by Justin McNulty's supporters, Pop & Hiss has learned that deportation looks increasingly likely for the well-respected artist and DJ better known as Kutmah. Late last week, a judge denied a motion to reopen the immigration case of the 34-year-old Los Angeles resident and English national, who was detained by armed agents from the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division on May 5.

At press time, McNulty’s attorney and friends and family were exploring options to save the artist from being deported to Great Britain, but according to parties close to the case, barring a last-minute intervention from a well-placed political figure, McNulty will be transported from the federal immigration center in Chaparral, N.M., to his country of birth, upon receiving his passport — expected to arrive in the next few days.

“The odds of [Justin] McNulty getting to stay are slim, but everyone is still keeping a faint hope alive,” said Gaby Hernandez, a longtime friend who has spoken with McNulty over the course of his detainment. “It’s been an obviously difficult period for him, but I think that when the final word comes in and he’s completely out of limbo, he’ll be have a positive attitude and his outlook will brighten.”

In an effort to help defray his legal costs, his supporters are mounting a free Kutmah benefit on June 3 at the Echoplex, featuring performances from Dam-Funk, Daedelus and the Gaslamp Killer.

-- Jeff Weiss

Comments

[Jay]

Who cares about this stuff. La Times is becoming like TMZ.

[Michael]

I second Jay's comments. Who cares? Also, the bottom line is that McNulty IS HERE ILLEGALLY - WHAT PART OF THAT WORD DON'T THE UBER-LEFTISTS OF SoCal GET?!?!

Next time, apply for citizenship get a REAL job and maybe things will work out for you next time around, but until then, C-ya!!

[Sp]

I'm a fan of Kutmah and as a Brit in L.A. too I am sad no one was able to advise him on his legal options to remain in the U.S. Deportation must've been avoidable.

The U.K. isn't Cali, but his D.J. talents won't go unnoticed. Hopefully Kutmah will become a bridge to the U.K. D.J. scene for all his crew and supporters. There is life after deportation! Long live Kutmah.

[Jim]

Jay and Michael, how many times have you been pissed off because of paperwork BS or beaurocracy? That is all this boils down to and you both come off sounding soulless and callous, devoid of humanity. Shameful.

[save the deserts]

hilarious. people read not only the entertainment section, but a BLOG within it then get irritated it contains information about entertainment? shows the caliber of recruits the reich wing can enlist. the real problem is that their vote counts as much as mine. shouldn't there be a baseline intelligence requirement or something?