Image copyright AP Image caption Randy Quaid appeared in Kingpin and Independence Day

Actor Randy Quaid has been briefly detained by Canadian border officials, who fear he will not comply with an order to leave the country next week.

Quaid fled to Canada with his wife in 2010 after facing charges in California of vandalism and squatting.

He sought refugee status, claiming his life was in danger from organised crime.

But his request was denied, and he was recently informed he would be sent back to the US to face criminal charges.

Following his detention by the Canada Border Services Agency on Wednesday, he was brought before Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, which ordered his release.

He still faces deportation next Wednesday.

As well as the charges, he and Evi, who has dual Canadian citizenship, face warrants for failing to appear at a court hearing in November 2010.

The Quaids are alleged to have caused more than $5,000 (£3,253) in damage to a property in Santa Barbara, which they claim belongs to them.

Quaid told the Associated Press that he was now ready to return to the US and "move on with my life".

Santa Barbara officials have previously said they would arrest Quaid if he returned to the US.

At a hearing in 2010, he told a Canadian court he was being targeted by "Hollywood star whackers", and that eight of his fellow actors had been "murdered in odd, strange manners", including Heath Ledger and David Carradine.

Quaid, the older brother of fellow actor Dennis, is best known for his roles in such films as Kingpin, National Lampoon's Vacation and The Last Detail.

He and Evi have been posting bizarre expletive-ridden videos to their Youtube channel, denouncing the US's attempts to force them back.