Waimea man facing deportation given 45-day reprieve

KAILUA-KONA — A Waimea family man active in the community who is facing deportation was given 45 days to take care of his affairs before he has to leave Hawaii.

Graham Ellis, who has lived on the Big Island for the past 36 years, will be allowed to leave without supervision back to his home country of England after reaching an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Ellis and his attorney said Wednesday.

“I’m feeling really relieved, like I’m waking up from a bad dream,” said Ellis, who turned himself in to authorities on Oahu after agents notified him last week he would be deported. “I’m really happy to be home, at least temporarily.”

The 45-day allotment gives Ellis and his family time to tidy up their affairs as they prepare to separate, at least temporarily, and say goodbye to friends.

“I’d like to say how much I appreciate the community support for me and my family,” Ellis said of the more than 100 letters they received after word of his pending departure was reported Tuesday.

The circus-performing family is well-known in the North Hawaii community, as Ellis instructs camps. He’s also been involved in several service organizations. Ellis said when he goes back to England he’ll apply for immigration visas for his family.

Ellis last entered the country under the visa waiver program in 2002. By staying in the country longer than the program allotted, Ellis committed a civil offense. He never applied for lawful permanent residence despite being married to an American because of complications from a nonviolent marijuana-related offense in England 30 years ago that since was expunged from his record, his immigration attorney Kevin Block said.

The agreement is effective from Tuesday, so Ellis will return the England on July 20.

Email Tom Hasslinger at thasslinger@westhawaiitoday.com.