President Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt can stay in the United States, a U.S. immigration judge has ruled, ending a more than six-year legal battle over her status.
Judge Leonard Shapiro made the decision Friday, court officials told CNN. Two government sources confirmed Monday that the ruling will give legal status to Zeituni Onyango, allowing her to remain in the country.
Onyango's attorneys plan to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. in Ohio.
Onyango, who is the half-sister of the president's late father, applied for political asylum in 2002 due to violence in her native Kenya. She was a legal resident of the United States at the time and had received a Social Security card a year earlier.
Onyango's asylum request was turned down in 2004, and she has been living in the United States illegally since then. She appealed the rejection of her request twice, but was denied each time and ordered to leave the country.
Judge Shapiro gave Onyango permission to remain in the United States in April 2009 while he considered her case.
In February, Onyango arrived at an immigration court in a wheelchair and testified before the judge for more than two hours, her representative, Amy Cohn, told CNN at the time. Two doctors, including her personal physician, also testified on her behalf. Onyango's medical condition was part of her legal defense against expulsion.
White House officials said during the appeals that Obama was staying out of the matter.
"The president believes that the case should run its ordinary course," the officials said.
Onyango's immigration status came to light in the final days of the 2008 presidential race.
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Post by: CNN's Jeanne Meserve and Mike M. Ahlers Filed under: Barack Obama • Immigration |
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I think that instead of saying "Post a Comment" to leave feedback it should say "Vent" or "Time to let your stupid brain go to the bathroom", or perhaps even "OK go ahead and prove how stupid you are". For anyone with half a brain, these posts have to be very scary and underscore how little, really little, this country has come in the last 50 years when it comes to tolerance, acceptance, and civil discourse. I think that I will find a comfortable seat and watch the mindless pit bulls go at each other.
I agree. Read my comment. It's time for an intelligent discourse, not Sarah palin crap!
God wants open borders, but doesn't like lazy people. Everyone who uses welfare and does not work hard is stealing from me and from others. God will punish you, you will have no excuses when the Lord questions you why, you will only be able to truly answer, and you will say to him "Lord I did not care about myself or others, I was lazy and selfish, I manipulated and abused what was supposed to be good, I constantly bitted at the hand that feed me, I acted as an animal because I am an animal." May God have mercy on your souls.
I hope some of you guys grow up and stop being so color conscious
Que color? We were speaking about ilegales. We have in mexico but no dolars no stay.
Is anyone surprised? Auntie is only the first of millions who will get to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Enjoy what little remains of the US way of life, then get used to being citizens of the next third world.
Yo soy Obama's long lost cousin from mexico. I love Norte America. Y hablo Ingles.
I am surprised that so many of you can't read.
"She was a legal resident of the United States at the time and had received a Social Security card a year earlier."
Hell, I wouldn't leave either if I was given LEGAL residency AND a SS card.
Apparently you can’t read either.
“Onyango's asylum request was turned down in 2004, and she has been living in the United States ILLEGALLY since then. She appealed the rejection of her request TWICE, but was DENIED each time and ORDERED to LEAVE the country.”
June...she needs to die right? You with me..we are going to get a lynch mob together and hunt this little American Hater down. We are doing it June 1st in honor of your hate. What is your address...we will pick you up in the 1964 Ford Pickup. You will see it....it is hard to miss...it is raised about 4 ft and has a bunch of rebel flags on it.
Don, take tus medicines. Stop de hate, you sound like Wright who is wrong.
In reality it is really is Lincoln's fault. If it werent for Lincoln we would not have this problem.
Lincoln was a republicano. Republicanos are buenos, they want everyone to work. But otros was us on welfare, guess they buy votes that way.
Death To Retards And Coloreds!!!!!! Sign up at ww.ihateeveryone.com
Tarado
She's an elderly woman in a wheelchair who fled from violence. Shame on all of you.
What part of the term illegal is beyond your comprehension?
slow clap...
How about you tell her to stop using the Taxpayers money for her medical bills....
You have got to be completely clueless if you think Obama being president didn't have anything to do with it. Even if he didn't directly pull any strings, do you actually think a judge was going to send the presidents aunt packing illegal or not. More than likely he did pull some strings but do you think he would actually come out and say he did. There's a lot that happens in politics you don't hear about. Previously she was denied twice and then Obama because president and she is approved. If the judge would have denied her the next article that you would have seen is "Judge retires for personal reasons".
What a load of crap. This country is going down hill fast. Thanks Obama, for getting the ball rolling faster.
She can stay? Really? Was there EVER even the slightest question that this was going to be the answer? E-V-E-R? Face it the "3" branches of 'government' are 'really' just one BIG cabal of criminals.
when is all the B. S. goin 2 stop impeach them both obama is not a us citizen prove it to me teaparty is here an now PREPARE??????????
My favorite bumpersticker: Re-elect PRESIDENT BIDEN in 2012. Right on!
Of course – why should we expect an obama family member to obey they law, when they advocate breaking them all the time?
Yippee! Another sure vote for the Regime, [peace be upon him] Another ILLEGAL, welfare moocher. GREAT!