American actor Rudy Youngblood has successfully appealed a deportation order and secured permission to leave Greece voluntarily, marking a positive turn in a challenging chapter of his visit to the country.
“Mr. Youngblood came to Greece because he loves our country and wanted to create a meaningful film production,” stated his lawyer, Julinda Rexhepaj. “He is pleased to have been released and holds no ill feelings, viewing this experience as a minor setback in an otherwise positive journey.”
The legal battle stemmed from an incident on December 27, 2024, when Youngblood was arrested in Kypseli. According to his appeal, plainclothes officers approached him without clearly identifying themselves. Feeling threatened, he reacted defensively but insisted he neither resisted nor assaulted the police.
“I didn’t realise they were officers until after they handcuffed me,” Youngblood explained, adding that he was not informed of his rights during the arrest.
The actor raised concerns about the severe professional and personal consequences of forced deportation, particularly the five-year ban it would impose on entering Schengen countries.
During a swift trial, Youngblood received a 10-month suspended prison sentence. He admitted that he did not fully understand the judicial process or the implications of his conviction at the time, as he had not sought legal counsel, believing he was not at fault, AMNA reported.
The proceedings also revealed that Youngblood’s visa had expired, leading to the deportation order. The actor attributed the overstay to health issues, explaining that he had been hospitalised in November.
The decision to grant voluntary departure provides Youngblood a brief window to leave Greece and avoid further legal complications, allowing him to move forward without the weight of a five-year ban.
