Yahoo News Randy Quaid Arrested By Canada Border Agents
US actor Randy Quaid has been detained by the Canadian border agency and claims he is being threatened with deportation because of a property dispute in California.
Quaid has been seeking permanent residency in Canada with his wife Evi, who is a dual Canadian-US citizen.
He said he was arrested when he checked in with the agency on Tuesday as part of the conditions set when his application for residency was rejected.
"I met every condition but they are saying 'you're not going to leave if we tell you to leave'," Quaid said in a telephone interview from a detention centre near Montreal.
A spokesman for the Immigration and Refugee Board confirmed Quaid had been arrested and said he would have a detention review hearing later on Thursday.
Evi has uploaded a series of videos to YouTube where her husband has made claims about business associates in the US trying to harm him.
She has also tweeted about her anger that he was arrested and criticised the Canadian government.
"RANDY QUAID ILLEGALLY ARRESTED TODAY," she wrote.
Quaid sought asylum in Canada in 2010 but was arrested in Vancouver that year over what he said is an outstanding warrant connected with a Santa Barbara property dispute.
He later dropped the asylum application and sought permanent residency.
"We love Montreal. It has a great film scene. My wife is here, she's Canadian, and we should be able to be together. We've been married 26 years," Quaid said.
The 65-year-old is known for movies such as The Last Picture Show and The Last Detail, for which he received an Oscar nomination.
He is the older brother of actor Dennis Quaid.
Quaid, a Texas native, and his wife were arrested in California in 2010 on suspicion of burglary and entering a building without consent.
Quaid said the building was their own home, after a failed attempt to sell it. He claims they still own the property.
Evi was also charged with failing to pay a bill at a hotel, but she said in a phone interview she disputes both charges.
The couple said they expect Canadian officials will try to deport Quaid, but that they would prefer to voluntarily leave and re-apply for permanent residency from abroad.
"If a judge says we have to leave, we will leave ... I can't be deported - that will screw up my ability to make films in other countries," he said.
