Judge allows Obama's aunt to stay in U.S. until at least Feb. 2010

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Boston Globe

Zeituni Onyango, the Kenyan aunt of President Obama, emerged this morning after a brief, closed-door hearing in US Immigration Court and smiled broadly.

"Praise God," Onyango said softly, holding her head high as she was surrounded by a throng of men in suits.

Judge Leonard I. Shapiro continued Onyango's case until Feb. 4, 2010, which allowed her to stay in the United States until at least that date, according to Fatimah Mateen, a spokesperson for the court. At the initial appearance, the judge explained the deportation charges against Onyango and detailed her rights. Mateen briefed reporters in the lobby of the courtroom, standing beneath a framed photograph of Onyango's nephew, President Obama.

"Ms. Onyango case is being treated just like any other case before an immigration judge," Mateen said.

Onyango plans to apply for permanent residency in the United States, according to Mike Rogers, a spokesman for Onyango's lawyers. While the lawyers' legal strategy remains unclear, Rogers said he was instructed not to use the word asylum.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/04/judge_allows_ob.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed7

[Fido Dido]

1. is this ruling common among other illegal immigrants?

I have no clue. Anyone here familiar with past handling of deportation issues regarding non-famous people?

[AlphaCentauri]

2. NO, Deportation rips apart American dream for Romanian immigrant's family

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/03/deportation_rips_apart_america.html

On Monday, his battle comes to an end, when he will be deported aboard a 12-hour flight back to his homeland, a move that will put into shambles the life in West Michigan he and wife Gina worked hard to build for themselves and their young son.

Tiberiu, 45, spent a month jailed and was forced to quit his job as a painter. Gina, 44, has abandoned her dream of a master's degree from University of Phoenix here. And Gabriel, 9, is being pulled out of his Forest Hills elementary school, where he will bid goodbye to his classmates. Already he has had to give away the little sheltie, Balto, he has had since it was a pup.

[WriteDown]

3. Tiberiu's own fault...

Should have known someone powerful. :sarcasm:

[AlphaCentauri]

4. very sad but true

[AlphaCentauri]

6. Another example

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=437508&mesg_id=437508

[provis99]

5. one rule for the well-connected,

and another for the rest of us.

[Blandocyte]

12. God, I hate how the famous/connected

get away with breaking rules that the rest of us would get punished for. Just a personal hot button, tho. Carry on.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Africans have the lowest immigration rate to this country

http://www.asian-nation.org/immigrant-stats.shtml

We're talking a bit more than 5.5% (as of 2000) vs. > 20% for Europeans and > 20% for Asians.

It's pretty pathetic considering how dysfunctional many of the countries are. It was even lower before the U.S. started allowing Sudanese and a few others in when it had gotten atrocious in some of those countries. I wish I had kept it, but I had a chart that showed 1 year where only 400 Africans were granted entry (I think it was back in the 1990s).

We were good enough to be dragged over here in chains for centuries, but not good enough to be allowed in to seek "the American dream". :eyes:

[firedupdem]

11. Correct you are. n/t

[Cha]

8. Yeah, well, I'll look at the

bright side and be happy for Zeituni Onyango.

[Igel]

9. Continued for 10 months?

To wait for new facts to come to light?

Because she didn't know this hearing was coming down the pike?

Because it wasn't clear what "deportation" meant in the first instance?

Because ...?

[cobalt1999]

10. Until Obama can get more of his judges into the Immigration Office?

Don't mind me, I'm a cynic when it comes to politicians.