Bill In Congress May Give Chef Chai Reprieve
Proposal Introduced By Senator Akaka
POSTED: 4:42 p.m. HST November 30, 2001
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HONOLULU -- Popular island chef Chai Chaowasaree's battles with the Immigration and Naturalization Service may soon to be over, thanks to a private bill submitted in Congress by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.
The bill would grant a permanent residence visa to Chaowasaree (pictured, right), who has been fighting deportation for nine months. The INS moved to deport Chaowasaree, owner of Chai's Island Bistro, after deciding his 1986 marriage to a Big Island waitress was a sham.
He was appealing that decision when he went to Thailand last year to visit his ailing father. When he came back to Hawaii, INS officials told him he had voided his appeal and violated the terms of his residency.
Chaowasaree was put in prison as the Oahu Community Correctional Center for five weeks.
"The private bill for me, especially, once introduced, normally stays deportation to INS," Chaowasaree said. "We just have to wait for the bill to go through Congress, they vote and pass the bill."
The bill goes to the Senate judiciary committee, which will evaluate the case and make a recommendation to the full Senate next year.
The bill would grant a permanent residence visa to Chaowasaree (pictured, right), who has been fighting deportation for nine months. The INS moved to deport Chaowasaree, owner of Chai's Island Bistro, after deciding his 1986 marriage to a Big Island waitress was a sham.
He was appealing that decision when he went to Thailand last year to visit his ailing father. When he came back to Hawaii, INS officials told him he had voided his appeal and violated the terms of his residency.
Chaowasaree was put in prison as the Oahu Community Correctional Center for five weeks.
"The private bill for me, especially, once introduced, normally stays deportation to INS," Chaowasaree said. "We just have to wait for the bill to go through Congress, they vote and pass the bill."
The bill goes to the Senate judiciary committee, which will evaluate the case and make a recommendation to the full Senate next year.Copyright 2002 by TheHawaiiChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
