30 Years a Secret: Pakistani Immigrant's Shocking US Deportation!

Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood is reeling after Asif Amin Cheema, a beloved local restaurateur, was deported to Pakistan last Thursday. Cheema, 63, owner of Best Sub #2, had lived and worked in the Chicago area for over three decades, building a life and a business.

30 Years a Secret: Pakistani Immigrant's Shocking ...

His Deportation comes after a long legal fight and multiple attempts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove him from the country. Last week, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied his motion to stay, effectively clearing the way for his removal. Speaking to Block Club Chicago, Cheema's daughter, Rabia Amin, expressed the family's devastation, highlighting her father's serious medical conditions and the fact that he has no criminal record. It's a tough situation, made even more complex by the fact that this was reportedly the third deportation attempt.

Cheema's story is a complicated one. A Homeland Security spokesperson stated that he was detained in Addison, near his home, as part of a targeted enforcement operation back in September. However, his family insists that he was actively working to update his immigration status, with green card interviews even on the horizon. This detail adds another layer of frustration to an already painful situation.

The past month has been a whirlwind for the Cheema family. An initial Deportation attempt was halted when Cheema collapsed at O'Hare Airport, suffering a medical emergency. This incident brought significant media attention to the case, drawing concern from local officials and shining a spotlight on the family's plight. It's these moments, when personal tragedies intersect with larger political debates, that really make you stop and think about the human cost of immigration policy.

In a desperate attempt to prevent his removal, relatives held an emergency press conference just hours before Cheema's flight. They pleaded with elected officials to intervene and to address what they described as a "flawed immigration system." Rabia Amin vowed that the family's fight wasn't over, emphasizing their determination to bring her father back home and secure the justice he deserves.

The core of the family's legal challenge revolves around a 1993 removal order. According to Amin, the family was completely unaware of this order until Cheema's detention during Operation Midway Blitz in September. They argue that Cheema never had a fair chance to contest the old order, a claim that, if true, raises serious questions about due process. The Cheema family's struggle is far from over, and their story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by many immigrant families in the United States.