Chicago Chef Rallies Community to Support Deported Restaurant Owner

Fundraiser held to help bring Asif Amin Cheema back home after deportation to Pakistan

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A well-known Chicago chef, Zubair Mohajir, has stepped up to support a longtime restaurant owner, Asif Amin Cheema, who was deported to Pakistan last year despite living in Chicago for 30 years. Cheema's daughters say he had a valid work permit and was scheduled for a green card interview when he was detained. Mohajir organized a fundraiser at Cheema's restaurant, Best Sub #2, to raise awareness and money to help bring Cheema back home to his family and community.

Why it matters

This story highlights the human impact of immigration enforcement actions and the power of community support. Cheema was a fixture in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, running a popular restaurant for decades. His deportation has left a void, but the community has rallied behind him, showing the importance of immigrant-owned businesses and the bonds they build with local residents.

The details

Cheema was deported to Pakistan after his arrest last year, despite living in Chicago for 30 years. His family says he had a valid work permit and was scheduled for a green card interview when he was detained. An attorney helped with his immigration status, but never removed a deportation order on his record from the early 1990s—an order his family said they didn't know existed. Chicago Chef Zubair Mohajir, who previously competed on "Top Chef," heard about Cheema's story and wanted to help, organizing a fundraiser at Cheema's restaurant to raise money and awareness to support the family's fight to bring Cheema home.

  • Cheema was deported to Pakistan last year.
  • Mohajir organized the fundraiser at Best Sub #2 on Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Asif Amin Cheema

A 63-year-old restaurant owner in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood who was deported to Pakistan last year despite living in the U.S. for 30 years.

Zubair Mohajir

A Chicago chef who previously competed on the reality show "Top Chef" and organized a fundraiser to support Cheema and his family.

Rabia Amin

Cheema's daughter who is fighting to bring her father back home to Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“This means the world to me, it just goes to show who my dad is, how much they respect him.”

— Rabia Amin, Cheema's daughter (CBS News Chicago)

“Mr. Cheema has made such a big imprint in this community that thing we have in common is when we serve food, is that food is our weapon, food is our weapon to spread love and education.”

— Zubair Mohajir, Chicago Chef (CBS News Chicago)

“We are able to do what we do where we are because of places like this and people like Cheema to introduced, you know, kinda that cultural aspect of how Pakistanis and Indians take care of each other.”

— Zubair Mohajir, Chicago Chef (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

Rabia Amin plans to visit her father in Pakistan at the end of the month, but a travel advisory for Pakistan has been issued by the U.S. State Department due to the war with Iran. The family has also set up an online fundraiser to help support their efforts to bring Cheema back home.

The takeaway

This story underscores the human toll of immigration enforcement actions and the power of community support. Despite the challenges, Cheema's family and the local community are fighting to bring him back home, showing the important role immigrant-owned businesses play in neighborhoods and the bonds they build with residents.