American actor Randy Quaid was released Tuesday from a Canadian immigration jail near Montreal after authorities took him into custody on an arrest warrant dating back to 2013.
Quaid, 64, the older brother of fellow actor Dennis Quaid, fled the United States to Canada with his Canadian wife Evi Quaid in 2010, claiming they were victims of persecution, reported
The Canadian Press. The couple faces criminal burglary charges in California,
reported The Associated Press.
Quaid was released after his father-in-law posted a $10,000 bond and agreeing to abide by terms of his release, including letting Canadian border officials know where he is.
Quaid had been denied permanent residency in the country in 2013 but was living in Canada currently because his wife was sponsoring his stay, reported
The Hollywood Reporter. Quaid had tried to claim refugee status to duck possible extradition back to California.
CBC News said the couple initially applied for refugee status when they arrived in Canada in 2010 but withdrew that claim and applied for permanent residency. Canadian authorities have had an outstanding warrant out for Quaid after he missed a Canada Border Services Agency interview in 2013.
Facing a hearing on Tuesday, Quaid said he was "devastated" not to receive permanent residency and moved to the Montreal area.
"I'd lost faith in the system," Quaid testified at a border hearing Tuesday, according to the CBC News. "I wanted to get into a space where I could have time to investigate. I needed to gather evidence about what happened in Santa Barbara."
"I meant no disrespect to Canadian border services. I have great respect for them, but I didn't feel that anyone else was willing to listen to me," said Quaid.
CBC News said Quaid remains under a Canadian removal order and could be ordered to leave the country at any time. The actor, best known for his Golden Globe-winning performance in television movie "LBJ: The Early Years" and theater flick "Independence Day," told Canadian officials he was ready to stop running.
Related Stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.