Ilhan Saferali, a rising jazz trumpeter and composer who had sold-out performances in September at Hotel Eve, has had to cancel his planned Nov. 22 return to the downtown the Asheville jazz club because he was deported.
Liz Williams, the club’s owner, posted this in Hotel Eve’s newsletter earlier this week:
“Unfortunately, Ilhan has experienced some unexpected immigration challenges and will need to postpone his upcoming tour. Although based in New York City, Ilhan is a Canadian resident who was recently deported from the United States and is now working through that process.
Ilhan has given me his permission to share these circumstances with you all, and I think it's important to do so. International artists contribute so much to the American jazz tradition, and it's heartbreaking to see talented young musicians face these kinds of obstacles simply trying to travel, perform, collaborate, and make a living doing what they love.
We fully support Ilhan and hope to welcome him back to Hotel Eve in 2027, pending the resolution of his immigration situation.”
Saferali is a native of Vancouver, B.C., who had been living in New York City. No word from the Trump administration on how his deportation exemplifies targeting “the worst of the worst” for federal immigration enforcement.