Humboldt Park sub shop owner deported to Pakistan despite family's last-ditch plea to halt his removal
A Humboldt Park restaurant owner is being deported back to Pakistan, his country of origin, after his family on Thursday made a last-minute plea for his removal to be halted.
Asif Amin Cheema, 63, has called Chicago home for decades, but around 7 p.m. Thursday, he was put on a flight to be deported to Pakistan.
Cheema's family spent the entire day trying to prevent that from happening.
"He is the heart of our family," said his daughter, Hamna Amin.
Cheema's daughters made a last-minute plea Thursday afternoon for his deportation to be stopped.
"For him to be in the position that he is in today is not only inhumane, but it is unfair. He is gentle, patient, and deeply family-oriented," Hamna said.
Cheema's family said he laid down roots in Chicago decades ago, raising a family with five children, and owning a restaurant in Humboldt Park, Best Sub #2.
His daughters said he had a work permit, but the family was unaware of an order of removal from the early 1990s that was never enforced.
In September, Cheema was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Chicago.
"We ended 2025 not knowing what was going to happen to our dad. We're starting the new year not knowing what's happening to our dad and what our future looks like for our family, and it's really hard" said his daughter, Rabia Amin.
Cheema was set to be removed last month, but just before boarding the flight at O'Hare International Airport, was said to have suffered chest pains and was hospitalized.
A stay of removal was filed during his hospitalization, but later rejected by an appeals court.
At O'Hare on Thursday, Cheema's family tried getting in touch with officials at the Department of Homeland Security, but they said he was deported as scheduled.
Cheema's daughters said his future is now uncertain as they grapple with the reality that he is no longer here.
"We have to scramble and help and find relatives to drive the five hours to go get him at the capital of Islamabad, and he'd probably just have to stay with someone until we can figure out a way to get him on his feet while he is across the world," Rabia said.
The family said Cheema, who suffers from health conditions, was often denied medication during his detention.
The Department of Homeland Security denied those allegations in a statement, saying Cheema received all medications and received prompt and appropriate medical attention.