Obama aunt gets (yet another) immigration hearing

[peejay 327]

Obama aunt gets immigration hearing

By Jessica Fargen | Tuesday, January 27, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com | U.S. Politics

President Barack Obama’s aunt, who has been in this country illegally for at least five years, will have another chance to fight the years-long effort to deport her during an immigration hearing in Boston in April.

Zeituni Onyango, 56, the half-sister of Obama’s late father, was ordered to leave the country back in 2004, but she never left. Instead, she remained here illegally and made a quiet life for herself in two different South Boston housing projects while her nephew rose to national prominence.

Onyango, a native Kenyan, is reportedly living in the Cleveland area, having left Boston amid intense media attention.

Up until late last year, she had been living in a state-funded unit on Flaherty Way. Before that, from 2003 to 2007, she lived in the federally-funded Old Colony Development in South Boston.

A spokesman for her attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Onyango has a lengthy history with the U.S. Executive Office of Immigration Review, said spokeswoman Elaine Komis. A hearing has been scheduled for April 1 in Boston Immigration Court.

Her history goes back to March 2003, when she was initially issued documents ordering her to appear in immigration court, Komis said.

According to Komis:

On April 16, 2003, Boston immigration Judge Leonard I. Shapiro ordered her to leave the country. On May 19, 2003, she appealed that decision to the Board of Immigration Appeal.

On June 19, 2003, the board ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over her appeal.

On Aug. 11, 2003, her motion to reopen the case was granted. On Oct. 15, 2004, Shapiro again ordered Onyango to leave.

Onyango lived in obscurity until this past fall, when she became the subject of national news stories about her famous nephew, Obama, who was running for president at the time.

She has since moved away from Boston, but her case here has been reopened.

On Dec. 17, 2008, Shapiro granted her motion for a stay of removal, Komis said. On Dec. 30, her motion to reopen the case was granted, again by Sharpiro.

Onyango attended Obama’s inauguration with her immigration lawyer, Margaret Wong.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politi...ration_hearing/

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

They're not gonna short circuit the process because of a bunch of angry rednecks.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

she is going to get a green card at the end,

THE END

[Peikko 1,575]

Presumably she has the same chances that any other illegal immigrant gets. I somewhat doubt her nephew's position is going to influence the outcome one way or another. However, if you want to get all antsy about it, go right ahead.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Come on now. We all know she is going to be allowed to stay and get green card and then citizenship. Her relative is POTUS. What good is it to be king when one can't use the power?

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

OMG!

I've just come to realize that the rich and famous get special treatment and sometimes are above the law!

NOT

It's been since forever that I know that

Edited January 29, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

[Minya's wife 24]

Zeituni Onyango, 56, the half-sister of Obama's late father, was...

If she is the half-sister of Obama's father, then she only his half-aunt.

[peejay 327]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

not surprising in the least.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

She's harmless.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

She's harmless.

apparently the rule of law doesn't apply here, eh?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

She's harmless.

apparently the rule of law doesn't apply here, eh?

What rule of law, Charles? Are you saying that Judges never show leniency or that mitigating circumstances don't effect the the final judgment? I seriously wonder what planet some of you are from.

[peejay 327]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

She's harmless.

apparently the rule of law doesn't apply here, eh?

What rule of law, Charles? Are you saying that Judges never show leniency or that mitigating circumstances don't effect the the final judgment? I seriously wonder what planet some of you are from.

I'm sure the feeling is mutual my little Martian. Or maybe Uranus?

[natty bumppo 297]

If there is any example of when nepotism is tolerable (and if it is even applied here)...this would be the case.

Why so?

She's harmless.

apparently the rule of law doesn't apply here, eh?

What rule of law, Charles? Are you saying that Judges never show leniency or that mitigating circumstances don't effect the the final judgment? I seriously wonder what planet some of you are from.

What makes her case so special that "leniency or mitigating circumstances" come into play?