Actor Randy Quaid is crazy.

[seakrait]

I'm surprised no thread about him and his wife. Or is completely normal for Hollywood 'stars' nowadays?

Refugee status to get away from "star whackers".... pffft.

VANCOUVER — If Hollywood actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi can convince immigration officials they're eligible to make refugee claims, they could wind up staying in Canada for a year or more, according to a Canadian immigration expert.

"Assuming [Quaid's hearing] Thursday isn't a continuation of his detention review, it will be to determine if he's eligible to make a refugee claim," immigration lawyer Richard Kurland told The Vancouver Sun.

Kurland said that is when Canadian immigration officials can present evidence that he should not be eligible, such as a serious criminal background.

The Quaids are wanted on outstanding warrants in Santa Barbara on charges related to a squatting case in which they are accused of breaking into the guest house of a property they once owned, living in it and vandalizing it.

A Santa Barbara judge on Friday increased the Quaids' bail in that case to $500,000 after the couple missed a scheduled court appearance on Monday, according to a report in the Santa Barbara News Press.

Vancouver police arrested the couple on Thursday on those charges at a bank at 49th Avenue and Yew street in the Kerisdale neighbourhood.

It was after their arrest that the Quaids made the claim they were being persecuted and feared murder at the hands of what Randy called "star whackers."

Canada Border Services Agency representative Jim Murray referred to the couple as "fugitives from justice," who had failed to appear at previous court proceedings on other matters.

However, if the immigration tribunal does not deem the charges serious enough to bar their refugee application in Canada, Kurland said they will get into the back of the line of claimants who have entered the system ahead of them, including the group of Tamils who entered Canada on the MV Sun Sea in September.

Kurland pointed to Immigration and Refugee Board statistics that showed earlier this year the backlog of claims stood at 59,000, and federal Treasury Board statistics that showed a growing number of claims taking a year or longer to be heard.

"We may have Mr. Quaid up here for a considerable period, based on current processing delays," Kurland said.

And if he is eligible to make a claim, Kurland added that the immigration tribunal will decide whether he is eligible for a work permit, so he might be able to continue to seek roles in Hollywood North.

"Our system tests each case on its individual merits and he's entitled to the process," Kurland said.

Of course it will be up to Quaid to prove his seemingly outrageous claim that he fears murder at the hands of mysterious forces in the U.S. that he said were responsible for the deaths of eight of his close friends.

Quaid listed the deaths of Batman Dark Knight star Heath Ledger and David Carradine of Kung Fu and the Kill Bill franchise fame as examples.

Kurland noted that "some of the folks he died under mysterious circumstances, some of them were not so mysterious."

Ledger died of a drug overdose, and Carradine of what officials described as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

And Kurland added that in arguing his case, Quaid will have to prove not only that he feared persecution, but that he is not being adequately protected by authorities.

depenner@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun


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[Bonka]

It's cousin Eddie man! This stuff is right up his alley

[drunkrussian]

hahaha this guy always played a batshit crazy guy, always looked batshit crazy...looks like he IS batshit crazy, no acting required. Hopefully he gets deported...we can't be allowing terrible actors to live here, we already have enough untalented celebrities, we're overloaded

[rslater]

I want this guy to get refugee statues. Just an epic night if I drink with this guy at the Cambie or something.