Oscar-nominated actor Barkhad Abdi was stopped by customs officials at the airport in February, just a day after winning a British award for his turn in “Captain Phillips,” because of criminal offenses on his record, FOX 9 reports.
The 28-year-old is meeting with Customs and Border Patrol today, the station says, for a “deferred inspection” – essentially, when Abdi returned, customs agents could not make a decision on whether to allow him back into the country because of a lack of documentation. Today’s meeting is scheduled to remedy that.
Abdi’s trip-up comes because of past offenses. Most recently he was arrested in 2012 in Iowa for possession of marijuana and khat, the Star Tribune reports.
The Daily Mail says those drug charges were dropped. In 2004, he had been sentenced to 90 days in jail for giving a police officer a false name of another person and buying liquor under age, the site reports. The next year he was sentenced to more jail time for credit card fraud.
Abdi spoke briefly about his past with The Daily Beast last month.
“I look at that time and think it made me who I am now,” Abdi told the site. “Our mistakes shape us. You make a mistake and it makes you a better person. You learn from it. I wasn’t a complete man. I made mistakes to satisfy certain friends and to be cool and I took the consequences. I look back and smile now. Now I know not to do that, and how serious it was.”
Abdi, who moved to Minnesota from Somalia when he was 14 years old, is a permanent resident alien, FOX 9 reports. According to the station, if Abdi was not a resident, he would have been denied entry to the U.S. upon his return from winning a BAFTA on Feb. 17, when he was originally stopped.
The Star Tribune reports immigration action could technically against Abdi – but immigration officials generally only make such a move for big offenses. Most of Abdi’s previous run-ins were misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors, FOX 9 says.
It’s not all legal news with Abdi though. He will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to open the Minnesota Twins’ 2014 home season.
Abdi was nominated for best supporting actor at the Academy Awards for his role in “Captain Phillips,” his Hollywood acting debut.
The Star Tribune reports Abdi’s first pitch will cap off a day full of festivities. The day will start with a free Breakfast on the Plaza, then Twins legends Bert Blyleven, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Tom Kelly will greet fans as they arrive to the gates.
According to the Associated Press, after Abdi tosses out the first pitch he will meet fans in the new Twins Digital Clubhouse in the U.S. Bank Homerun Porch.
Abdi has been busy since the movie. He recently signed on to help MNsure make its final push to enroll as many Minnesotans as possible for health insurance before the March 31 deadline.
The Twins home opener is April 7. They host the Oakland A’s at 3:10 at Target Field.
He’s also in talks for his first movie role since “Captain Phillips,” a part in Judd Apatow’s newest film “Trainwreck,” The Guardian reports.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfMVqL344Y
